Canada opened its consulate in Greenland’s capital and the first French consul in the Danish territory arrived on Friday, following the Trump administration’s attempts to acquire the island.
“I am heading to Nuuk for the opening of Canada’s new consulate – strengthening Canada’s presence, partnerships and leadership in the Arctic,” Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand wrote on X on Friday morning, later posting a video of the raising of the Canadian flag in Nuuk.
She was accompanied by Governor General of Canada Mary Simon.
Canada had previously announced plans for the consulate in 2024, but its 2025 opening was postponed due to weather conditions.
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Members of the Canadian diaspora gather in front of the Canadian consulate in Nuuk, Greenland, on Friday after the official opening. (Florent Vergnes/AFP via Getty Images)
“The future of the Arctic belongs to the people of the Arctic. Tomorrow I will visit Denmark and then on to Greenland,” Simon said in a speech earlier this week. “Let me be clear: Canada stands firmly with the people of Greenland, who will determine their own future.”
Jean-Noël Poirier also arrived in Nuuk on Friday to become the first French consul general of Greenland, the French government said in a press release.
French President Emmanuel Macron announced the Nuuk consulate in June, making it the first European Union country to set up a consulate in Greenland.
The physical French consulate does not yet exist.
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Foreign Minister Anita Anand, right, speaks to the media on Friday after raising the flag at the new Canadian consulate in Nuuk, Greenland. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)
“Deep ties of friendship and important joint projects already connect France, Denmark and Greenland, allowing all parties to look forward with enthusiasm and confidence to the opening of this new Consulate General,” the French government said.
It added: “France reiterates its commitment to respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark.”
President Donald Trump has pushed for the takeover of Greenland, with government officials claiming Denmark is unable to defend the semi-autonomous island.
Demonstrators in Greenland are protesting the Trump administration’s attempts to acquire the island in January. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
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In January, Trump threatened to impose 10% tariffs that would rise to 25% in June on eight European countries, including France and Denmark, unless they allowed the US to acquire Greenland.
The president dropped the tariff threat after a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, in which Trump said a “framework” had been reached for a deal for Arctic security.
The US reopened its consulate in Greenland in 2020 after closing it in 1953.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
