French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday criticized the United States for its repeated assertions about acquiring Greenland, calling such statements "wrong" and reaffirming France and the European Union's support for Greenland's autonomy and Denmark's sovereignty.
"It is wrong when the United States keeps expressing a wish to take over Greenland," Macron said during a joint press conference in Nuuk with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen.
He underscored that "Greenland cannot be bought or taken," directly rebuking past comments of U.S. President Donald Trump amid renewed geopolitical interest in the Arctic.
His remarks underscored European unity and opposition to any perceived U.S. encroachment on Denmark's sovereignty.
Since taking office earlier this year, Trump has repeatedly expressed a desire to gain control of Greenland, stating that he would not rule out the possibility of using "military or economic coercion" to achieve this goal.
In March, U.S. Vice President JD Vance and an American delegation visited Pituffik Space Base, a U.S. Space Force base located in Greenland, where Vance criticized Denmark for not doing enough to ensure security in the Arctic or improve the well-being of the Greenlandic people.
During his one-day visit, Macron also announced the opening of a French consulate general in Nuuk - a symbolic move signaling France's intent to deepen diplomatic presence and long-term engagement in the Arctic.
"France has decided to open a consulate general here in Nuuk to be closer to you," he said. "We stand side by side with Greenland, just as the European Union does."
