Macron visits Greenland in displaying European unity and signals to Trump

As a sign of Greenland’s growing importance, French President Emmanuel Macron visits the Arctic Island today, what experts say is a show for European unity and a signal for Donald Trump.

Stepping a foot in the Nuuk capital this morning, Macron will be greeted with frosty and stormy weather, but despite the cold conditions, he will be welcomed warmly.

“This is big, I have to say, because we have never had visits from the president at all and that is very welcome,” says veteran Greenland official Kaj Claist.

Nuuk is a small town with less than 20,000, and the arrival of a world leader and his entourage is a major event.

“I think people will be curious, they just hear about it,” says the consultant and host of the podcast Arkuluk Joe Clayst. “I think they will be interested in what his message will be.”

“He is President of France, but he is also an important representative of Europe. It is a message from European countries that they are supporting that Greenland is not sold, but for the Kingdom of Denmark,” says Arkuluk Joe Clist.

“These recent months have created some questions about what we need allies, as well as what the Allies need us to strengthen cooperation,” she says.

The President of France is the first high-profile leader to be invited by the new Greenland Prime Minister, Jens-Frederick Nielsen. The conversations will focus on the northern Atlantic and Arctic Security, as well as on climate change, economic development and critical minerals, before Macron continues until the G7 summit in Canada.

The Danish Prime Minister Met Fredericksen is also present and called the visit of the French President “another specific certificate of European unity” against the backdrop of “difficult foreign policy in recent months”.

For several months, Greenland, which is a semi -autonomous Danish territory with 56,000 people, has been put on high pressure since US President Donald Trump has repeatedly said he wants to acquire the huge mineral rich, pointing to US security and the main reason and The use of force is not excludedS

“Macron is not coming to Greenland just because of Green, he is also part of a bigger game, among these great powers in the world,” says Clay.

France was among the first nations to spoke against G -N Trump, even sailing a proposal to unfold troops Denmark refused. Just a few days ago in UN Oceans Conference In Nice, Macron stressed that “the ocean is not for sale, Greenland is not sold, the Arctic and there are no other seas” – words that were quickly greeted by Nielsen.

“France has supported us since the first statements about our country’s taking out,” he wrote in a Facebook postS “This is necessary and enjoyable.”

The fact that Macron is coming is a strong message in itself, says Ulrik Pam Gad, a senior researcher at the Danish Institute of International Research.

“The Vice President’s couple was unable to pull her out,” he says, citing JD Vance and his wife, a large -scale trip in March and a lack of public engagement. “This, of course, sends a message to the US public and to Trump.”

It also emphasizes change, as Greenland leaders consolidate relations with Denmark and the EU, “because we have to have allies in these problems,” says Kaj Clay’s, hinting at the US pressure.

“I think it’s a good time for Macron to come here,” Kleist adds. “They can talk about the Arctic defense before the big NATO meetings … and hear what we are looking for in terms of cooperation and investment.”

However, opposition leader Pele Broberg believes that Greenland should have hosted bilateral conversations with France only. “” We welcome every world leader at any time, “he says,” unfortunately, this time does not seem a visit to Greenland. It looks like a visit to Denmark. “

Relations between the US and Denmark are becoming more and more terrible. US Vice President JD Vance is scolded on the Scandinavian country for insufficient security in the security of the territory during his recent trip to the US military base in the far north of Greenland. Last month Denmark Foreign Minister calls on the US ambassador in Copenhagen, following a report The Wall Street Journal, which is said to have been said to focus efforts on Greenland.

Then, at a Congress On Thursday, it turned out that US Secretary of Defense Pete Heget suggests a tense questioning that the Pentagon had prepared plans for “unforeseen” to accept Greenland with force “if necessary”.

However, Denmark has stepped cautiously. Last week, his parliament Green lit a controversial bill By allowing US troops to be located on Danish soilAnd it spends another $ 1.5 billion ($ 1.1 billion) to strengthen Greenland’s protection. This enhanced military presence was on this weekend, as the Danish Navy frigate sailed around Nuuk Fjord and Helicopters, touring the city.

“Denmark is reluctant to make this change from a very transatlantic security strategy for a more European strategy,” GAD estimates, but that has changed in recent months.

With increasing tension and increased competition between the Global Forces in the Arctic, the EU also increases its role. Earlier this month, the trade block signed a transaction investing in Greenland’s graphite mine – metal used in batteries – as it competes to provide supplies of critical minerals, as well as energy resources, against the backdrop of the dominance of China and the war of Russia in Ukraine.

For France, a visit to Greenland is committed to its policy to strengthen European independence from the United States, proposes Mark Jacobsen, an associate professor at the Royal Danish Defense College.

“This is a changed security situation in North Atlantic and the Arctic,” he explains. “This is a strong signal. This will show that France is taking European security seriously.”