France’s support is both diplomatic and possibly military. Greenland is emerging as a player in global foreign policy, experts assess.
Later today, French President Emmanuel Macron will land in Nuuk. The visit is historic and marks France’s support for Greenland – especially in light of American wishes for takeover.
Since the Prime Minister of Greenland was inaugurated, Vivian Motzfeldt (S), Prime Minister of Greenland for Foreign Affairs, has traveled to Paris and Brussels to meet with the French Foreign Minister and diplomats.
On March 26, she issued a press release stating that a data center will be established in Greenland and that French researchers are welcome in the country. At the same time, she has repeatedly spoken about creating greater cooperation between Greenland and France.
But at the same time, a much larger diplomacy has unfolded. The Foreign Policy Council in France has approved a declaration that it is willing to help Greenland militarily – including by deploying French soldiers if Greenland so wishes.
Now recent diplomatic talks are culminating in a French charm offensive in Nuuk.
Emmanuel Macron’s visit is not just a signal of friendship with Greenland. He can use his visit as a backdrop to send a clear signal to the US – but also to the EU.
This is according to Ulrik Pram Gad, senior researcher at the Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS) with a focus on the Arctic and geopolitics.
– France has been trying for decades to persuade the other EU countries that the EU should not only be a trade partnership, but also be able to project military power in the world.
The US’s desire for Greenlandic control
On December 23, 2024, Donald Trump stated that he believes the United States should have ownership of Greenland. Since then, the message has been repeated repeatedly by both himself and his staff.
On January 7, Donald Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., landed in Nuuk, which brought the world’s attention to Greenland.
The same day, the incoming president said he would not rule out using economic or military force to gain control of Greenland – despite the fact that the US and Denmark are both members of NATO and despite the fact that the US has had a military presence in Greenland since World War II.
On March 13, President Trump was asked if he would annex Greenland. He replied: – I think it will happen.
On March 15, Nuumiut took to the streets in a demonstration against the United States’ desire to take over Greenland. Possibly the largest demonstration in the country’s history.
After much debate and warnings of demonstrations, the wife of US Vice President J.D. Vance canceled a planned visit to Sisimiut. Instead, the couple landed at Pituffik Space Base on March 28, where a press conference was held.
On April 10, The New York Times revealed that the American strategy was now to persuade the Greenlanders to become part of the United States – including through soft power and private investment.
On May 6, the Wall Street Journal revealed that US President Donald Trump has ordered the heads of intelligence agencies such as the CIA, NSA and DIA to increase intelligence gathering in Greenland. Among other things, the order called for a list of Greenlanders who could help the US achieve its goals. This led several experts and countries to suspect US espionage in Greenland.
French demonstration of power
France has been one of the first countries to show its support for Greenland after Donald Trump in December again expressed his desire for an American-controlled Greenland.
Ulrik Pram Gad believes this for several reasons. Firstly, France itself has a rich history of both colonialism and decolonization. In addition, there have been many French anthropologists in Greenland over the years.
– It creates a bit of a version of Knud Rasmussen in their popular culture. It may influence French preconceptions about Greenland more than so many other countries.
But most importantly, the support – and thus the visit – is a way for France to take the lead in a new foreign policy and military direction for the EU – and Greenland is the perfect opportunity for this.
– France has always wanted to be a great power and has therefore not followed the US in the same way. Therefore, they have always believed that the EU should be able to do something on its own – which they have put themselves in the forefront of.
Greenland on the world stage
It is unclear whether the president will negotiate with Greenland and Denmark during the visit. But Ulrik Pram Gad assesses that the visit is more symbolic than practical.
– Macron wants to show the US that they can’t just bully us as they please. Therefore, it is more of a symbol of the goodwill and the project that France wants to demonstrate, he explains and elaborates:
– Normally, heads of state only arrive when an agreement has been reached or the final details need to be worked out. It may also be that the visit is used to kick-start some processes.
With Vivian Motzfeldt’s invitation to Emmanuel Macron, Ulrik Pram Gad explains that Greenland now finds itself in a unique situation on the world stage.
For as a small population that does not normally have an independent foreign policy, the French visit and the population’s rejection of the American vice president show that Greenland is able to set a direction.
– It’s very interesting for such a small population. You can obviously invite or reject and in that way help shape the way public diplomacy is conducted.