Canada and France officially opened consulates in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, on Friday, February 6, 2026, in a clear demonstration of solidarity with the Danish autonomous territory and a firm signal of opposition to U.S. President Donald Trump’s repeated calls for American control over the strategically important Arctic island.
The move comes against the backdrop of renewed U.S. interest in Greenland since Trump’s return to the White House. Trump has long argued that Washington must secure the mineral-rich, geopolitically vital island for national security reasons, citing its location and vast untapped resources critical to rare earth minerals and Arctic defence. Although he appeared to moderate his rhetoric last month—claiming a “framework” agreement with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte to increase U.S. influence without outright acquisition—tensions remain.
A joint U.S.–Denmark–Greenland working group has since been established to discuss Washington’s security concerns in the Arctic, though details of the talks have not been disclosed. Both Denmark and Greenland have consistently stressed that shared security interests do not extend to compromising sovereignty or territorial integrity.
Experts view the opening of the Canadian and French consulates as a significant diplomatic gesture.
“It’s a victory for Greenlanders to see two allies opening diplomatic representations in Nuuk,” said Jeppe Strandsbjerg, a political scientist at the University of Greenland. He noted strong local appreciation for the international backing in response to Trump’s earlier statements.
French President Emmanuel Macron first announced France’s intention to establish a consulate during a visit to Nuuk in June 2025, where he voiced Europe’s solidarity with Greenland and criticised any attempts to challenge its autonomy. The newly appointed French consul, Jean-Noël Poirier, previously served as France’s ambassador to Vietnam.
Canada had signalled its plans to open a diplomatic presence in late 2024, aiming to deepen cooperation and engagement with Greenland on issues ranging from climate change to Arctic governance and economic development.
Ulrik Pram Gad, an Arctic expert at the Danish Institute of International Studies, described the dual openings as sending a broader message: “Trump’s rhetoric is not just a bilateral issue between the U.S. and Denmark. It involves European allies and Canada standing together as partners and friends of Greenland.”
Christine Nissen, a security and defence analyst at the Europa think tank, added that the move forms part of a deliberate strategy to frame the Greenland question as a European and global concern rather than a purely Danish–American matter.
The new consulates also reflect recognition of Greenland’s increasing autonomy under the 2009 Self-Government Act, which granted the territory greater control over internal affairs, natural resources, and foreign relations (while defence and security remain Denmark’s responsibility).
Analysts say the growing diplomatic footprint in Nuuk—now including Iceland (since 2013), the United States (reopened in 2020), the European Union (office opened in 2024), and now Canada and France—will help Greenland build direct international relationships, gain diplomatic experience, and strengthen its position should it eventually pursue full independence.
By expanding ties across trade, investment, science, education, and politics, Greenland can gradually reduce its economic dependence on Denmark and diversify its external partnerships.
Greenland has maintained formal diplomatic engagement with the European Union since 1992, the United States since 2014, and Iceland since 2017. These developments underscore the island’s rising profile in Arctic geopolitics, where climate change, resource competition, and strategic positioning have drawn increasing global attention.
The openings in Nuuk are widely interpreted as a reaffirmation of respect for Greenland’s right to self-determination and a quiet but firm rejection of unilateral claims over its future.
