Paris, January 28 – French President Emmanuel Macron issued a stark warning to Europe on Wednesday, labeling the escalating tensions over Greenland with the United States as a critical ‘wake-up call’ for the continent’s strategic future. Speaking at a joint press conference in Paris alongside leaders from Denmark and Greenland, Macron reaffirmed France’s unwavering solidarity with both nations amid growing pressures from Washington.
Macron highlighted how recent developments underscore the strategic importance of Greenland, urging Europe to bolster its sovereignty, enhance Arctic security, counter foreign interference and disinformation, combat climate change, and foster sustainable development while reducing strategic dependencies. ‘These events make it clear that Greenland’s situation is a strategic alert for all of Europe,’ he declared, emphasizing the need for specialized partnerships in these areas.
France remains fully committed to the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity alongside all EU partners, Macron stressed, vowing to defend these under the UN Charter. The comments come against the backdrop of repeated overtures from U.S. President Donald Trump, who since reassuming office in 2025, has expressed interest in acquiring the world’s largest island—a notion firmly rejected by European leaders.
Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen echoed the concerns, calling for NATO to play a far more active role in the region, particularly around Greenland and the High North. Earlier, on January 22, Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen drew a firm line in Nuuk, declaring sovereignty a non-negotiable red line regardless of U.S. pressure. ‘Our territorial integrity and borders are lines that cannot be crossed,’ he stated, affirming Greenland’s place within the Danish realm.
Greenland, an autonomous territory under the Danish realm, sees Copenhagen retain control over defense and foreign affairs. As Arctic resources and geopolitical stakes intensify with melting ice caps, the island’s position has never been more pivotal. Macron’s remarks signal a unified European front, pushing back against external ambitions and prioritizing collective security in a rapidly changing global landscape.