Paris: In a demonstration of European solidarity amidst growing international interest in Greenland, French President Emmanuel Macron is set to visit the island. Macron will be joined by Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, reflecting the collaborative ties between France and Denmark, as Greenland is an autonomous part of the Kingdom of Denmark. The visit is scheduled for June 15, according to a statement released by Frederiksen's office on Saturday.
According to Anadolu Agency, Greenland's parliamentary head, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, will engage in discussions with Macron and Frederiksen on critical issues such as North Atlantic security, economic development, climate change, and energy. Frederiksen emphasized the importance of Macron's visit, describing it as a testament to the unity among European nations amid recent foreign policy challenges. She expressed appreciation for the international support Greenland and the Kingdom have received.
This visit comes in the wake of renewed interest from the United States, particularly from President Donald Trump, who has expressed a desire to acquire Greenland since his return to office in January. Despite these intentions, both Denmark and Greenland have consistently opposed any notion of selling the territory. Greenland, rich in minerals and strategically positioned between the Arctic and Atlantic oceans, remains a significant point of contention.
The sentiment in Greenland is overwhelmingly against joining the United States, as evidenced by a January survey indicating that 85% of Greenlanders oppose such a move. In March, Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen called on European nations to support Greenland's stance unequivocally, asserting the territory's autonomy and the unlikelihood of any change in its governance.