Key points
- Trump has expressed interest in acquiring mineral-rich Arctic island
- France has stood by us since initial remarks: Greenland’s PM
- 77pc of French citizens and 56pc of Americans oppose US annexation of Greenland: IFOP poll
ISLAMABAD: French President Emmanuel Macron is set to visit Greenland on Sunday in a gesture of solidarity with Denmark, aimed at signalling European unity following US President Donald Trump’s threats to take control of the island.
Greenland, a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, holds the right to declare independence. Both the Greenlandic and Danish governments have firmly stated the island is not for sale, and that only Greenlanders can determine their future, according to Reuters.
President Trump has expressed interest in acquiring the mineral-rich and strategically positioned Arctic island for the United States, and has not ruled out the use of force. His Vice President, JD Vance, visited a US military base in Greenland earlier this year, in March.
First foreign leader
Macron, who will become the first foreign leader to visit Greenland since Trump’s direct remarks about acquiring the territory, was invited by the prime ministers of both Greenland and Denmark. He stated that his visit is intended to deter any attempts to “prey” on the island.
“France has stood by us since the initial remarks about taking our land. This support is both needed and appreciated,” Greenland’s Prime Minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, wrote on Facebook a few days before Macron’s arrival.
When asked whether Macron would issue a direct message to the United States during his visit, one of his advisers told the media: “The trip is a signal in itself,” without directly naming Trump.
IFOP poll
According to an IFOP poll commissioned by NYC.eu and published on Saturday, 77 per cent of French citizens and 56 per cent of Americans oppose a US annexation of Greenland.
Additionally, 43 per cent of French respondents said they would support the use of French military power to prevent such an invasion, according to Reuters.
Macron will travel to the capital, Nuuk, as well as visit an EU-funded hydropower station and a glacier. He is expected to discuss Arctic security and climate change with his hosts.
Although Denmark is an EU member, Greenland is not part of the bloc. A French presidential adviser said the visit would provide an opportunity to explore ways to enhance Greenland’s partnership with the EU.
Trump’s threats
In the wake of Trump’s threats, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen made several trips to Paris seeking French and broader European support, and has recently ordered French-made surface-to-air missile systems, indicating a shift in Copenhagen’s defence priorities.
According to Florian Vidal of the Paris-based IFRI think tank, Denmark’s move to engage with the EU’s only nuclear power reflects an effort to project hard power in response to a more assertive United States.
“Trump’s more aggressive approach has come as a shock and is making France’s vision of a more autonomous Europe seem more sensible to Denmark,” Vidal said. “From a Nordic perspective, France is a military power that carries weight.”
