Canada and France open Greenland consulates in show of Denmark support

Canada and France will open diplomatic consulates in Nuuk on Friday, signalling support for Nato ally Denmark and the Arctic island after US efforts to secure control of the semi-autonomous territory. Canada’s foreign minister, Anita Anand, travelled to Nuuk to inaugurate the consulate and was joined by Canada’s Indigenous governor general, Mary Simon.

France named Jean-Noël Poirier consul general, making it the first EU country to establish a consulate general in Greenland. Poirier will be tasked with working to deepen existing cooperation projects with Greenland in the cultural, scientific and economic fields, while also strengthening political ties with the local authorities.

Canada had promised to open a consulate in Greenland in 2024 before Donald Trump’s recent talk of a takeover, and the formal inauguration was delayed from November because of bad weather.

Greenland, Nuuk