Nuuk, June 16, 2025 – The Europe Today: French President Emmanuel Macron strongly criticized recent annexation threats by U.S. President Donald Trump during a landmark visit to Greenland on Sunday, calling such rhetoric inappropriate among allies. “That’s not what allies do,” Macron stated upon his arrival in Nuuk, the capital of the Danish autonomous territory.
Macron is the first foreign head of state to officially visit Greenland, a vast island of growing geostrategic importance located at the intersection of the Atlantic and Arctic. The visit comes in the wake of repeated comments by President Trump — since his return to the White House in January — suggesting the United States may pursue annexation of Greenland for security reasons and refusing to rule out the use of force.
Denmark has repeatedly rejected the idea, asserting that “Greenland is not for sale.”
President Macron’s visit, made at the invitation of Danish and Greenlandic authorities, was intended to reaffirm France’s and the European Union’s solidarity with Greenland and to support its sovereignty and territorial integrity. He was welcomed by Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenlandic Premier Jens-Frederik Nielsen, along with dozens of residents waving the red-and-white Greenlandic flag.
The six-hour visit began with trilateral discussions aboard a Danish frigate and was expected to center on climate change, Arctic security, and sustainable development. While a scheduled visit to a hydroelectric plant was canceled, Macron proceeded with a planned trip to Mount Nunatarsuaq, about 30 kilometers from Nuuk, to witness firsthand the rapid effects of climate change in the Arctic.
Scientific reports have shown that the Arctic is warming four times faster than the global average, with Greenland’s ice sheet melting at a record pace — 17 times faster than historical norms during a heatwave in May, according to recent data.
Macron announced France’s intention to significantly increase investment in Arctic ecosystem research, continuing the legacy of famed French explorer Paul-Émile Victor, whose expeditions to Greenland in the mid-20th century remain foundational. A hut built by Victor in 1950 in Quervain Bay was recently designated a historic site by Greenlandic authorities.
The French leader’s visit also carried strong geopolitical symbolism. Macron’s presence contrasted sharply with the reception granted to U.S. Vice President JD Vance during his one-day trip to Greenland in March — a visit viewed by both Nuuk and Copenhagen as provocative. During his stop at the U.S. Pituffik military base, Vance criticized Denmark’s role in Greenland’s affairs, alleging neglect of security responsibilities.
The Pituffik base remains critical to U.S. missile defense due to its strategic location, and military developments in the Arctic continue to accelerate. Denmark recently announced a $2 billion initiative to bolster its Arctic military presence, while NATO plans to establish a Combined Air Operations Centre (CAOC) in Norway above the Arctic Circle to address rising tensions, particularly from Russia’s military ambitions in the region.
Although not part of the European Union, Greenland retains close ties through its status as one of the Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) linked to the bloc. During his visit, Macron reiterated Europe’s commitment to support Greenland’s development while respecting its autonomy.
Polls indicate that the majority of Greenland’s 57,000 residents aspire to full independence from Denmark, but with no desire to become part of the United States.
