French President Emmanuel Macron visited Greenland on Sunday in a clear effort to reinforce European political support for Denmark and its strategic Arctic territory—directly countering U.S. interest in the island, particularly under President Donald Trump. The trip marks Macron’s first to Greenland and comes just days ahead of the G7 summit in Canada, where he will meet Trump.
Macron landed in the Greenlandic capital of Nuuk, where he is scheduled to meet with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen. The visit is being framed by the French government as a strong endorsement of national sovereignty and territorial integrity, citing the U.N. Charter.
Macron’s remarks at last week’s U.N. Ocean Conference in France appeared to take direct aim at Trump, who has repeatedly expressed interest in acquiring Greenland for strategic reasons. “Greenland is not up for grabs,” Macron said. He emphasized that the Arctic, deep seas, and developing nations’ resources are “not for sale.”
Security concerns were a central theme of the trip, with Macron, Frederiksen, and Nielsen holding a high-profile meeting aboard a Danish naval vessel. The discussions focused on Arctic stability, critical minerals, economic cooperation, and climate policy.
Macron’s visit also comes amid reports that the U.S. Department of Defense, under Secretary Pete Hegseth, has considered contingency plans for seizing control of Greenland and Panama if necessary. Hegseth refused to comment on the matter during a tense congressional hearing last week, further fueling speculation.
President Trump has not ruled out using military force to gain control of Greenland, describing it as a strategic asset essential for national defense in the high north. Intelligence officials under Director Tulsi Gabbard have also reportedly ordered studies on Greenland’s independence movement and attitudes toward U.S. resource extraction.
Greenlandic Prime Minister Nielsen rebuked those efforts in April, stating that Greenland “will never, ever be a piece of property that can be bought by just anyone.” Macron’s presence in Nuuk underscores growing European unity in opposition to any future U.S. attempt to claim the island by force or influence.
