France Expresses Solidarity with Greenland Amid Rising U.S. Tensions
Jean-Noël Barrot, the French Minister for Digital Transition, is in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, to demonstrate Paris’ solidarity with local authorities as the territory garners increasing attention from the United States, reports 24brussels.
During his visit on Saturday, Barrot inspected the French naval vessel BSAM Garonne stationed in Nuuk harbour. He emphasized, “These regions may be remote, but they are now exposed to new forms of tension and aggression. That is why France, as a major maritime power, is present here.”
The backdrop to Barrot’s visit is a series of revelations by Danish broadcaster DR, indicating that at least three individuals linked to former President Donald Trump have engaged in influence operations in Greenland. One of these operatives reportedly compiled a list of Greenlanders who support the U.S. while identifying those opposed to Trump.
In response to these concerns, Danish authorities recently summoned an American diplomat, prompting Washington to urge Copenhagen to “calm down,” according to BBC reports. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen stated firmly that “any attempt to interfere in the internal affairs of the Kingdom [of Denmark] will of course be unacceptable.”
Since taking office, Trump has publicly asserted his “need” for Greenland, citing both national and international security concerns, and has not dismissed the notion of using force to obtain the territory.
In March, U.S. Vice-President J.D. Vance criticized Denmark for not adequately protecting Greenland during his visit to the Pituffik Space Base. This criticism followed an incident where influencers aligned with Trump were seen distributing funds and merchandise to locals less than a month before.
To bolster European solidarity, French President Emmanuel Macron visited Greenland in June, reaffirming France’s commitment to the region. Earlier this year, France hinted at the possibility of deploying European troops to Greenland “if our security interests are at risk.”
Both Denmark and Greenland have consistently stated that the island is not for sale, asserting that its future will ultimately be determined by the Greenlandic people themselves.
