Canada and France open consulates in Greenland - AP explains

Описание: (6 Feb 2026)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Geneva, Switzerland - 6 February 2026
1. SOUNDBITE (English) Jamey Keaten, The Associated Press: ++PART OVERLAID++
"Canada and France are opening diplomatic consulates in Greenland in a show of support for the semiautonomous Danish territory and their NATO ally Denmark. The openings come as many of Greenland’s 57,000 people have expressed concern about President Donald Trump’s calls for the United States to take over the icy and mineral-rich Arctic island. Foreign Minister Anita Anand of Canada was inaugurating its consulate that officials say could also help boost cooperation on issues like climate change and Inuit rights. France was becoming the first European Union country to establish a consulate-general in Greenland. The U.S. already has a consulate there. Trump has argued the U.S. needs Greenland to safeguard Arctic security from Russia and China. But he recently backed off from a tariff threat and talk of possible use of military force to get his way on Greenland."

ASSOCIATED PRESS
ARCHIVE: Nuuk, Greenland - 24 January 2026
2. Drone of Nuuk

ASSOCIATED PRESS
ARCHIVE: Nuuk, Greenland - 24 January 2026
3. Various of buildings in Nuuk and signs

ASSOCIATED PRESS
ARCHIVE: Nuuk, Greenland - 16 January 2026
4. Various of US Consulate

ASSOCIATED PRESS
ARCHIVE: Nuuk, Greenland - 24 January 2026
5. Drone of Nuuk

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Geneva, Switzerland - 6 February 2026
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Jamey Keaten, The Associated Press:
"The island’s prime minister warned this week that Trump still wants Greenland and said some people are still struggling with sleep problems and anxiety over the takeover talk."
STORYLINE:
Canada and France planned to open diplomatic consulates Friday in the capital of Greenland, showing support for NATO ally Denmark and the Arctic island in the wake of U.S. efforts to secure control of the semiautonomous Danish territory.

Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand was traveling to Nuuk to inaugurate the consulate that officials say also could help boost cooperation on issues like climate change and Inuit rights. She was being joined by Canada's Indigenous governor general, Mary Simon.

France's Foreign Ministry said Jean-Noël Poirier also would take up his duties as consul general, making it the first European Union 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,” the ministry said.

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

Anand met Danish counterpart Lars Løkke Rasmussen in Denmark on Thursday and posted on social media that “as Arctic nations, Canada and the Kingdom of Denmark are working together to strengthen stability, security, and cooperation across the region.”

France says the decision to open its diplomatic outpost was taken when President Emmanuel Macron visited in June.

US President Donald Trump announced in January he would slap new tariffs on Denmark and seven other European countries that opposed his takeover calls, only to abruptly drop his threats after he said a “framework” for a deal over access to mineral-rich Greenland was reached with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte’s help. Few details of that agreement have emerged.


Produced by Daniel Niemann

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