Paris, January 28, 2026 – The Europe Today: French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday stressed the need to strengthen defense capabilities in the Arctic region and called on the European Union to fully assume its role in addressing emerging security challenges in the High North.
Speaking at a joint news conference in Paris with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen, Macron highlighted growing strategic concerns stemming from Russia’s military posture in the Arctic and China’s expanding economic presence in the region.
“In light of Russia’s posture in the High North, China’s economic presence there, and the strategic consequences of this rapprochement, we share the need to strengthen our defense posture in the Arctic,” Macron said, according to media reports.
The French president noted that several European countries have already taken steps to reinforce their defense capabilities through joint military exercises. He urged the European Union to “play its full role” by enhancing coordination and revising its Arctic strategy to reflect evolving geopolitical realities.
Macron further described recent developments in Greenland as a “strategic wake-up call” for Europe, emphasizing the importance of European sovereignty, Arctic security, countering foreign interference and disinformation, combating climate change, and fostering sustainable development partnerships while reducing strategic dependencies.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen echoed these concerns, stating that recent weeks had underscored the importance of European unity. She stressed that when European nations stand together without compromising democratic values and send a clear collective response to external threats, progress is achievable.
“In a situation where the world order as we have known it is under pressure, changing rapidly, or maybe is gone, then we need a stronger Europe than ever,” Frederiksen said, calling the current moment a decisive test of European unity.
Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen expressed appreciation for France’s support, emphasizing the need for unity over division. He stated that the cooperation extends beyond Greenland and reflects broader commitments to democracy, respect for international law, and global stability.
“Our close cooperation in this situation is not only about Greenland. It goes beyond Greenland,” Nielsen said.
The renewed focus on the Arctic comes amid continued controversy over remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly stated that the United States must acquire Greenland for national security reasons to counter rivals such as China and Russia. Both Denmark and Greenland have firmly rejected any proposal involving the sale of the territory or the transfer of sovereignty.
Although President Trump moderated his rhetoric following a recent meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Davos, Switzerland, tensions surrounding U.S. demands persist. After the meeting, Trump announced a framework deal related to Greenland aimed at addressing U.S. security concerns, though details remain undisclosed. Several media reports have suggested the proposal could involve designating U.S. military bases in Greenland as U.S. sovereign territory.
