Paris (TDI): France is set to open a consulate in Greenland on February 6, a move the country’s foreign minister described as a clear political gesture underscoring Paris’s interest in the strategically important Arctic territory.
The announcement comes as diplomatic attention intensifies around Greenland, particularly after repeated remarks by US President Donald Trump expressing interest in taking control of the island, which is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark.
Speaking to French radio station RTL on Wednesday, Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said the decision to open the consulate was made last summer, following President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Greenland, a trip widely viewed as a show of solidarity with Denmark.
“I traveled there at the end of August to prepare for the opening of the consulate, which will officially begin operations on February 6,” Barrot said. He added that the initiative reflects France’s intention to strengthen its presence in Greenland, including cooperation in scientific research.
Read More: Greenland Reaffirms Loyalty to Denmark Amid US Interest
Barrot stressed that Greenland’s future had already been decided by its people. “Greenland does not wish to be owned, governed, or absorbed by the United States,” he said. “It has chosen to remain linked to Denmark, NATO, and the European Union.”
Greenland’s leadership has repeatedly stated that the island prefers to maintain its autonomous status within Denmark rather than pursue closer ties with Washington.
Read More: US Lawmakers to Visit Denmark Amid Trump’s Greenland Takeover Threats
Trump, however, has argued that the United States needs Greenland for strategic reasons, warning of growing Russian and Chinese activity in the Arctic region. While both countries have increased their presence as climate change accelerates ice melt, neither has laid a territorial claim to Greenland. The US, meanwhile, has maintained a military base on the island for decades.
France’s diplomatic move also comes as Denmark’s foreign minister is scheduled to meet senior US officials in Washington to discuss Greenland’s future amid rising geopolitical tensions surrounding the Arctic.
