Canada and France open Greenland consulates after Trump demands

Canada and France have opened new diplomatic missions in Greenland, marking a historic expansion of foreign engagement in the Arctic territory and a clear demonstration of allied unity following recent remarks by US President Donald Trump about taking control of the island.

Canada formally inaugurated its first-ever consulate in Greenland on Friday, with a high-level delegation travelling to Nuuk for the occasion. The group included Canada’s Governor General Mary Simon and Foreign Minister Anita Anand, and their arrival was accompanied by a Canadian Coast Guard vessel, underlining Ottawa’s long-term interest in Arctic cooperation and security.

At a flag-raising ceremony in Nuuk, Anand said the new consulate represents Canada’s enduring commitment to partnership in the Arctic. She described it as a symbol of Canada’s determination to “stand together with the people of Greenland and Denmark,” emphasising shared values, mutual respect and long-standing regional connections.

The Canadian opening coincided with a similar move by France, whose officials also opened a consulate in Greenland on the same day. Together, the two missions represent the most significant expansion of foreign diplomatic presence in Nuuk in decades. Until now, only Iceland and the United States had maintained formal consular services in the Greenlandic capital.

The coordinated openings send a strong signal of continued support from Nato allies at a time when Greenland has drawn renewed international attention. President Trump has repeatedly said the US needs to “own” Greenland for national security reasons, comments that sparked concern across Europe and North America. He has since moderated his position, saying he is exploring a potential deal following discussions with Denmark, European partners and Canada.

For Canada, the consulate reflects both strategic planning and deep-rooted regional ties. The move was first announced in early 2024 as part of a broader review of Ottawa’s Arctic foreign policy. While the opening had originally been planned for late 2025, logistical challenges caused by severe weather delayed the launch. Recent geopolitical developments have since given the mission added significance.

Michael Byers, a professor at the University of British Columbia and a leading expert on Arctic affairs, said the decision was both timely and logical. He noted that Nuuk is just an hour’s flight from Iqaluit, the capital of Canada’s northern territory of Nunavut, and that the two regions share extensive social, cultural and economic links.

“I’m only surprised it hasn’t occurred sooner, given the important connections between Greenland and Arctic Canada,” Byers said. He added that Governor General Simon’s presence carried particular weight, given her Inuit heritage. “Her visit is an affirmation at the highest level of the cultural and ethnic connections between Arctic Canada and Greenland. It’s a very powerful statement.”

Simon, who grew up in Nunavik in northern Quebec, is the first Canadian governor general to visit Greenland since 1982. She has spoken warmly of her lifelong connection to the territory, recalling how, as a child, she would hear Greenlandic Inuit songs broadcast over shortwave radio through her grandmother.

“She would say: ‘These are our relatives who live in faraway lands. We are all one people,’” Simon told delegates at the Arctic Frontiers conference in Norway earlier this week, shortly before travelling to Nuuk.

The opening has also been welcomed by Inuit leaders in Canada. Natan Obed, president of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, which represents Inuit across the country, said the consulate was the culmination of years of advocacy aimed at strengthening ties between Inuit communities separated by national borders.

Obed said around 50 Canadian Inuit were expected to arrive in Nuuk on a chartered flight from Montreal to attend Friday’s ceremony, highlighting the strong people-to-people dimension of the diplomatic milestone.

He added that US statements about Greenland resonate deeply among Inuit communities, given their shared history of colonisation and broader concerns about sovereignty in the Arctic. Trump’s past remarks about Canada have also heightened sensitivities.

“We do worry that the United States may return to more serious overtures around annexing Canada and Canada being the 51st state,” Obed said. “And we do worry that Inuit Nunangat, our homeland, is one of the pivotal reasons for the US to consider that sentiment.”