France’s Elysee Palace issued a statement on the 7th saying that President Macron will pay an official visit to Greenland on the 15th. The purpose of this visit is to strengthen cooperation between France and Greenland and will “help consolidate European sovereignty.”
The statement said that at the invitation of Jens Frederiksen, Prime Minister of the Greenland Self-Government, and Mette Frederiksen, Prime Minister of Denmark, Macron will travel to Greenland to hold a joint meeting with the two leaders to discuss issues related to North Atlantic and Arctic security, climate change, energy transition, as well as the security of critical mineral supplies.
According to a message released by the Danish Prime Minister’s Office on the same day, Mette Frederiksen welcomed Macron’s visit. She said that Macron’s visit is “another concrete manifestation of European solidarity” amid Denmark’s “difficult diplomatic situation.”
Greenland, located in the northeast of North America, is the largest island in the world. The island is a Danish self-governing territory with a high degree of autonomy. Its defense and foreign affairs are handled by the Danish government. The United States currently has a military base in Greenland. Since taking office this year, U.S. President Trump has repeatedly vowed to acquire Greenland and has stated that the use of force is not ruled out. Trump’s request has been condemned and opposed by Denmark and Greenland’s residents.