Emmanuel Macron took a scarcely disguised swipe at Donald Trump on Sunday as he arrived in Greenland, saying in reference to the US President’s ambitions to acquire the territory: “I don’t think that’s something to be done between allies.” The 10-word remark came as France’s President landed in the Arctic territory alongside Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen, in a visit aimed at reinforcing European commitment to the region.
Mr Trump previously expressed interest in acquiring Greenland, currently part of the Kingdom of Denmark, for the United States – a suggestion dismissed at the time by both Denmark and Greenland as absurd and offensive. Mr Macron said his visit was to deliver “a message of solidarity and friendship” from France and the European Union, and to underscore that “this territory, which has very high strategic stakes, must have its integrity respected”. He added: “It means a lot to me to stand with Greenland as it faces economic, environmental and security challenges.”
The visit precedes a G7 summit in Canada, where Mr Macron is expected to again confront Mr Trump over climate and Arctic sovereignty.
In a UN speech last week, the French leader said territories like Greenland “are not up for grabs,” further sharpening his stance.
Later in the day, Mr Macron joined Prime Ministers Frederiksen and Nielsen aboard a Danish helicopter carrier for talks on climate action, low-carbon energy, critical minerals and regional security.
Tensions over the Arctic have intensified in recent days. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth refused to deny reports that the Pentagon has drafted contingency plans to forcibly seize Greenland and Panama, while Mr Trump has said military force to secure Greenland cannot be ruled out.
Greenlandic Prime Minister Nielsen has dismissed such statements as disrespectful, insisting: “Greenland will never, ever be a piece of property that can be bought by just anyone.”
Mr Trump first floated the idea of buying Greenland in 2019, calling it “strategically interesting” and suggesting Denmark should consider the sale. He later cancelled a planned visit to Copenhagen after Denmark’s government mocked the idea.
Vice President JD Vance, visited Greenland last month in what his office described as a “fact-finding mission”.
He met with local officials and US military commanders at Thule Air Base and said afterwards that “the Arctic is America’s next frontier – and Greenland is at the centre of it”.
