By Xie Hao
French President Emmanuel Macron on June 15 visited Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, becoming the first foreign leader to visit the island since Donald Trump began his campaign to buy or annex Greenland after his re-election as the US President.
On his way to the G7 Summit in Canada, French President Emmanuel Macron made a brief stopover in Greenland, voicing EU and French support for the Danish autonomous territory, a move widely seen as a clear geopolitical message to the US. After Donald Trump took office as US President, he continued to exert pressure on Greenland and even threatened to annex the island by force. The brief and timely visit of Emmanuel Macron to Greenland carried threefold strategic considerations.
First, the visit aimed to bolster France's leadership in advancing European strategic autonomy. Since Donald Trump returned to office, the urgency for European strategic autonomy has markedly increased. In response, France has continued to promote the development of European defense autonomy capabilities, sought to strengthen its leadership role in EU foreign and economic affairs, and advocated for reducing strategic reliance on the US. As the US steps up its presence in the Arctic, Macron's visit to Greenland on the eve of the G7 Summit and his public expression of support served as a clear rebuke to Donald Trump's push for annexing the island. It reflects France's political ambition to assert strategic autonomy in Arctic geopolitics and to promote a united and self-reliant Europe.
Second, the visit aimed to advance strategic cooperation between the EU and Greenland, serving as a bridge for the future development of bilateral ties. Greenland holds abundant reserves of rare earths and other critical minerals and sits at a key node along Arctic shipping routes, which are the reasons for the US interest in the island. Amid mounting pressure from the US, Greenland is eager to strengthen its autonomy by deepening its special partnership with the EU. In May, Greenland's Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt expressed a desire to enhance the island's "bilateral" ties with the EU and identified mineral resources as a key area for cooperation. For the EU, there is also a strong need to deepen cooperation with Greenland in areas such as economic development, low-carbon energy transition, and critical mineral supply. The visit marks a significant step toward aligning the strategic interests of the EU and Greenland. It not only offers Greenland external support but also creates an opportunity for the EU to expand its strategic presence in the Arctic, laying the groundwork for future practical cooperation.
Third, the visit was also aimed at reinforcing France's influence in Arctic security affairs. As global warming accelerates glacial melt in the Arctic, the region's strategic importance, especially in terms of emerging sea routes, has been steadily rising, making it a key arena of international strategic competition. During the visit, Macron boarded a Danish naval frigate, underscoring the military and strategic dimension of his trip. Notably, Macron formally proposed holding joint military exercises in the Arctic with partners such as the Baltic states, Nordic countries, and Canada. This initiative aims to strengthen the security of Greenland and signals France's intent to actively promote Greenland's shift from a transatlantic security framework toward integration into a European defense architecture.
At present, momentous changes of a like not seen in a century are accelerating across the world. Europe and the US are transitioning from partners with shared interests to competitors, and the contest over Greenland essentially reflects this broader strategic rivalry between them. Greenland itself is relatively weak and cannot remain neutral amid the intense competition between Europe and the US. Faced with the increasingly aggressive stance of the US, deepening cooperation with Europe has become a necessary choice for Greenland. Europe's accelerated strategic decoupling from the US has become an unavoidable move. It is an inevitable measure for Europe to prevent Greenland from falling under US control to safeguard its own strategic interests.
Although the visit was brief, the signals it sent were very clear. His open challenge to the US highlighted the deepening rift within the Western world, while Donald Trump's determination to claim Greenland is set to further intensify the strategic tensions between the US and Europe. Following Macron's lead, more European countries are likely to view Greenland as a key focus for advancing strategic autonomy. Under this circumstance, Greenland's reintegration into the EU may be put on the agenda.
(The author is from China Institute of Contemporary International Relations.)
