Shortly thereafter, French President Emmanuel Macron paid an official visit to Greenland. It was the first time a foreign leader has visited since former U.S. President Donald Trump’s harebrained proposals to buy the territory drew international ridicule. Our trip, as it happened, was on June 12. Its goal was to increase European support for this strategically significant Danish territory, especially as it relates to Arctic security, climate change, and economic development.
Accompanied by Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland’s political leader, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, Macron’s visit underscored a commitment to bolster sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of renewed U.S. ambitions. This visit came on the heels of Trump’s recent military threats to annex Greenland, an example of increasing geopolitical tensions around the Arctic.
On a recent trip to Greenland, Macron took the opportunity to visit a nearby glacier and a hydroelectric power station. He visited a Danish warship that was visiting Nuuk, the capital, at the time. His itinerary shined a light on Greenland’s incredible natural resources. It further underscored the region’s burgeoning strategic importance as global interest in the Arctic accelerates with climate change.
Macron articulated the need for European nations to take responsibility for Greenland, stating, “I don’t think that’s what allies do… it’s important that Denmark and the Europeans commit themselves to this territory, which has very high strategic stakes and whose territorial integrity must be respected.”
Copenhagen is increasing its military footprint in Greenland. They’ve even sent fighter jets to patrol the western coastline as a deterrent towards the United States and recently deployed a navy frigate to waters off the coast. This sweeping broad increase is representative of a larger strategy to secure their homeland and defend against what they see as external threats from outside powers.
Beyond the military aspect, Macron’s visit has a political motive. It is an important piece of Europe’s overall reaction to the U.S. approach in the Arctic. In this regard, earlier this year, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot confirmed that Paris had discussions with Danish counterparts. They discussed options for prepositioning French forces in Greenland.
On behalf of his country, Macron strongly reaffirmed the sovereignty of Greenland territory, echoing statements made earlier that same week in defense of the territory’s sovereignty. “The deeps are not for sale, any more than Greenland is for sale, any more than Antarctica or the high seas are for sale,” he said.
This visit comes on the heels of a United Nations conference on the world’s oceans. French President Emmanuel Macron inaugurated the summit in Nice on June 9. European nations are coming to understand this more and more. They are aligning their efforts to counter the impacts of climate change and the ongoing geopolitical developments in the Arctic.
