French ambassador on consulate opening: The future of Greenland, the Kingdom of Denmark, and NATO is at stake.

Today, Denmark’s two key NATO allies, France and Canada, are each opening their own consulate in Nuuk.

This move provides the Kingdom with a necessary diplomatic lifeline amid the persistent demands of the U.S. president to take control of Greenland.

*"We have a crisis because one of our closest allies—the United States and its president—are saying they are willing to use force against another ally, which is destructive and very dangerous,"* says the French ambassador to Denmark, Christophe Parisot, ahead of his trip to Nuuk this Friday.

*"At stake are Greenland’s integrity, the Kingdom of Denmark, NATO, and the rules-based international order."*

The French ambassador to Denmark, Christophe Parisot. (Photo: © Mathias Lyhne Høj Vejen, DR)

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**A Political Gesture to Show Solidarity**

For France, the consulate will play a crucial role in strengthening cooperation with Greenland in areas such as trade, climate research, minerals, and tourism.

While the diplomatic upgrade is largely about France demonstrating solidarity with Denmark and Greenland, Christophe Parisot does not hide that France has its own interests in maintaining a physical presence amid the current security situation in the Arctic.

*"When so much is happening in one place, it’s important to be physically present. Direct contact is the foundation of diplomacy,"* he says.

*"And it’s a political gesture—very important—to show solidarity,"* he adds.

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**Comparing to Ukraine**

For Christophe Parisot, solidarity means standing up for friends and allies when they are under attack or in a difficult situation.

*"If they are truly your friends or allies, you show up, support them, and make it very clear that Greenland is not for sale and cannot be taken over,"*

Christophe Parisot, France’s ambassador to Denmark.

This is how both France and Denmark have acted toward Ukraine, where he believes it is instinctively clear what is at stake.

*"They are not just fighting for themselves, but also for Europe and European values."*

The ambassador believes that the French president, Emmanuel Macron, shares this instinctive sense of solidarity and understanding of what is at stake regarding Greenland.

Both when he visited the country in June last year and announced the opening of a general consulate in Nuuk, and when he stated at a press conference with Greenland’s prime minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, and Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen, that it is up to the Greenlanders to decide their own future—in Greenlandic (https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/udland/reels/macrons-groenlandske-vaekker-begejstring-i-nuuk).

*"If they are truly your friends or allies, you show up, support them, and make it very clear that Greenland is not for sale and cannot be taken over,"*

says Christophe Parisot.

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**Canada Aims to Strengthen Its Role in the Arctic**

For Canada, the opening of the consulate is primarily part of a foreign policy focused on reinforcing the sovereignty, security, and economic resilience of Arctic nations.

*"I have spoken with Lars Løkke Rasmussen and Vivian Motzfeldt countless times over the past few weeks to assure them that Canada stands in solidarity with Denmark and Greenland. And I will continue to assure them of our support,"*

says the country’s foreign minister, Anita Anand, who today traveled to Nuuk alongside, among others, Denmark’s foreign minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen and Canada’s governor-general Mary Simon to open the consulate (https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/indland/groenland/morgenpost-fra-groenland-en-helt-saerlig-kvinde-lander-i-nuuk-og-er-i-dag-med-til-aabne-det).

*"Our foreign policy is about making a greater impact in the Arctic. Canada itself is an Arctic nation, with 40 percent of our land and 70 percent of our coastline in the region.*

*"We will work more closely with Arctic peoples and ensure that we defend the sovereignty of Arctic nations."*

Listen to what Anita Anand said when DR spoke with her yesterday about today’s opening:

As an Arctic nation, Canada will take a leading role in this work, which is why the country is also opening a consulate in Nuuk and later this year one in Anchorage, Alaska.

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**Ongoing Dialogue with Løkke and Motzfeldt**

Furthermore, it is also important for Canada to demonstrate to Denmark and Greenland that they stand with us as an Arctic nation.

*"I have spoken with Lars Løkke Rasmussen and Vivian Motzfeldt countless times over the past few weeks to assure them that Canada stands in solidarity with Denmark and Greenland. And I will continue to assure them of our support,"*

says the foreign minister.

She dismisses the idea that this is about sending a signal to the U.S. and its president, as the relationship between the two countries is very special. The world’s longest undefended border runs between them, and every day, goods and services worth 300 billion dollars are exchanged, she notes.

However, Canada also wants to expand trade with other nations, just as it has with Denmark. Trade between Canada and Denmark has doubled over the past decade.

*"We are here to show that we stand together as Arctic nations. But again, it’s more about fulfilling Arctic foreign policy—this is not just a short-term effort. It’s a long-term process where Canada, alongside the five Nordic countries, will ensure that we cooperate now and forever."*

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