French President Emmanuel Macron will travel to Greenland next weekend, marking the first high-profile visit by a European Union leader to the Arctic territory since renewed U.S. interest in its strategic and mineral-rich location. Macron will join Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland’s new Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen on June 15 for talks focused on regional security, economic development, and climate issues.
The visit comes as President Donald Trump continues to signal openness to acquiring Greenland, asserting that the U.S. has a strategic interest in the island. Trump has not ruled out the use of force to bring the autonomous Danish territory under U.S. control. Greenland’s leadership has strongly rejected the idea, with Prime Minister Nielsen stating that Greenland “will never be a piece of property” up for sale.
Danish Prime Minister Frederiksen acknowledged the recent tensions, citing a “difficult foreign policy situation” in recent months. She praised Macron’s visit as a strong signal of European unity and support for Greenland, noting that France and Denmark share EU membership and common Arctic interests.
Macron’s visit is seen as a counterbalance to American ambitions in the region. France, a nuclear-armed EU power with global military capabilities, adds significant diplomatic weight to European efforts to reinforce Greenland’s ties to the EU.
The leaders plan to discuss Arctic security and the evolving geopolitical landscape of the North Atlantic, which has gained urgency as competition for influence over Greenland and its vast natural resources intensifies. Discussions will also address climate change impacts and energy cooperation—key issues in a region where melting ice is opening new sea routes and economic opportunities.
