Nuuk: French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Greenland on Sunday, bringing with him what he described as a “message of solidarity and friendship” from both France and the European Union. His visit comes at a time of heightened geopolitical interest in the Arctic region, particularly following controversial remarks by U.S. officials about potentially acquiring Greenland.
Upon his arrival at Nuuk Airport, Macron was welcomed by Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen. Speaking to reporters, Macron emphasized that territorial negotiations among allies should be based on mutual respect—not coercion. “That’s not how friends and allies behave,” he said, indirectly rebuking President Donald Trump’s past suggestion of purchasing Greenland.
“This visit underscores that Denmark and Europe are firmly engaged in supporting this territory, which holds significant strategic value,” Macron noted. “Its territorial integrity must be upheld.”
The French leader, en route to the G7 summit in Canada where he is expected to meet with Trump, also outlined his priorities for Greenland: strengthening cooperation on economic development, education, and tackling the effects of climate change.
Macron’s trip follows remarks he made at the UN Ocean Conference last week, where he warned that regions like Greenland and the world’s deep seas should not be treated as exploitable frontiers—a pointed remark interpreted by many as a critique of the U.S. approach.
Adding fuel to the controversy, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth last week appeared to confirm during a contentious congressional hearing that the Pentagon had drafted contingency plans for forcibly taking control of both Greenland and Panama. While Hegseth declined to provide further details, his comments were seen as reinforcing fears of an aggressive U.S. posture in the Arctic.
Greenland’s Prime Minister Nielsen, who took office in April, has condemned such rhetoric. “These statements are deeply disrespectful,” he said. “Greenland is not a commodity. It is not for sale—now or ever.”
Macron’s visit, the first by a French president to Greenland, is being seen as a diplomatic counterbalance to Washington’s increasingly assertive stance, reaffirming the EU’s commitment to respecting the sovereignty of Arctic territories.
