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French foreign minister visits Greenland amid geopolitical tensions
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot arrived in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, on Saturday evening for a two-day diplomatic visit. His trip aims to reaffirm France’s solidarity with the people of Greenland, at a time when the Arctic territory has become the focus of renewed international interest, particularly from the United States.
The visit comes just days after Danish media revealed that at least three American figures linked to former U.S. President Donald Trump had carried out influence operations in Greenland. The Danish government quickly summoned the U.S. chargé d’affaires to demand explanations.
Invited by Greenlandic Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt, Barrot underlined the importance of strengthening bilateral friendship and supporting both Denmark and Greenland in facing current challenges.
On Saturday, the minister toured the French military support ship BSAM Garonne docked in Nuuk. Commander Gwenaël Gourgues highlighted the importance of training in Arctic navigation, stressing that operating in such harsh environments required constant adaptation.
Barrot insisted that France, as a global maritime power, must be present in regions increasingly marked by competition and geopolitical tension. “These are remote areas, but they are not exempt from new forms of conflict,” he said.
On Sunday, Barrot is scheduled to meet with Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen and Foreign Minister Motzfeldt before addressing the press.
The visit follows President Emmanuel Macron’s trip in June, during which he voiced European support for Greenland and criticized Trump’s repeated attempts to claim the territory for U.S. strategic purposes. Greenland, backed by Denmark, has consistently rejected such proposals, affirming its right to self-determination.