America News Agency

France and Canada opened consulates on Friday in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, to demonstrate support for their NATO ally Denmark.

The move comes at a time when repeated statements by Donald Trump about seeking to acquire these Arctic territories have led to months of strained relations between Europe and the United States.

France became the first European Union member state to open a diplomatic mission in Greenland. The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Jean-Noel Poirier has taken up his post as France’s consul general in Nuuk, noting that the step aims to strengthen France’s consular network.

The opening ceremony of Canada’s new consulate was attended by Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand, Governor General of Canada Mary Simon, and Greenland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Vivian Motzfeldt.

According to local media, Simon will also meet with Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen during her visit.

Greenland, the world’s largest island, has the status of an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. While defense and foreign policy powers rest in Copenhagen, Trump’s statements about “acquiring” Greenland since his return to office in 2025 have been rejected by Europe.