The French president visited Greenland on 15 June. Emmanuel Macron became the first foreign head of state to visit the region after US President Donald Trump expressed interest in the possible annexation of this Danish autonomy.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland government chairman Jens-Frederik Nielsen welcomed Macron in Greenland’s capital Nuuku.
The French President said that this is a visit of solidarity between France and the European Union in support of the sovereignty of Greenland, which has a strategic position in the Arctic and rich natural resources.
Macron also commented directly on Trump’s idea of Greenland possibly joining the USA, calling it unacceptable. “Allies don’t do that,” the French president emphasised.
Donald Trump has repeatedly spoken out in favour of Greenland in one way or another coming under US control or directly joining the US. Both the Danish authorities and the majority of Greenland’s political forces reject this. Trump justifies his position on the grounds of US national interests, particularly in the security sphere.
Jens-Frederik Nielsen took office as Greenland’s prime minister at the end of March. Shortly thereafter, he called on the islanders to unite to resist external pressures.
Nielsen is a supporter of Greenland’s independence and has repeatedly stated that the island has enough resources to develop its economy on its own.