Emmanuel Macron expressed, Sunday, June 15, his disagreement with Donald Trump's desire to annex Greenland, upon his arrival for a visit to the Danish autonomous territory. Mr. Macron also expressed the “European solidarity” For this territory, during its visit to the Arctic Island.
Mr. Macron is the first foreign head of state to set foot in this territory, large as four times France and covered with 80 % ice, since the annexes of Mr. Trump. The French president arrived around 11:20 am (2:20 p.m. Paris time) in Nuuk where dozens of Greenlanders awaited him on his descent from the plane by waving a flag of Greenland.
” I'm coming (…) To say the solidarity of France and the European Union for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of this territory and to meet the challenges which are those of economic growth, climate emergency, education “said Macron, in the presence of Danish Prime Minister Put Frederiksen and the Greenlandic head of government, Jens-Frederik Nielsen.
He expressed before journalists his disagreement with Mr. Trump's will to seize the autonomous territory, believing that “This is not what is done between allies”. The American president, invoking reasons of “International security”aims to get their hands on this island, the largest in the world, rich in rare metals, by all means, including military if necessary.
A security issue
Mr. Macron started by visiting a Danish frigate where he reviewed the Danish troops before an interview with the Danish and Groenland leaders. The Danish Prime Minister welcomed this “Concrete testimony of European unity”. The visit of a hydroelectric power station funded by the European Union had to be canceled due to bad weather.
A welcome that contrasts with that reserved for the American vice-president JD Vance on March 28. The latter had to be confined to the American military base of Pituffik, on the northwest coast of Greenland, facing the outcry aroused by his arrival.
The population – 57,000 inhabitants -, mainly inuit, rejects any prospect of becoming American. Denmark also hammers that Greenland “Is not for sale”. JD Vance had accused Denmark during his visit of not having “Not doing a good job for the people of Greenland”especially in economic matters, and “Not well assured his safety”.
The Pituffik base, which is on the shortest trajectory of the missiles between Russia and the United States, is a crucial American defense link. The Arctic also becomes a security issue in the race for rare land and new maritime roads made possible by global warming.
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Faced with the aims of all stripes, Denmark announced that it will devote two billion euros to strengthening security in the Arctic. NATO will, for its part, install an air-operations command and control center (CAOC) in Norway, above the polar circle, while Russia seeks to consolidate its military power in the region.
Very exposed to global warming
A few days before the presidential visit, two buildings of the French navy along Greenland towards the Far North in order to familiarize themselves with the operations in the Arctic zone. If the weather conditions allow, Mr. Macron must realize for himself the growing impact of global warming on a Mont Nunatarsuaq glacier, about thirty kilometers of Nuuk.
The ice melted 17 times faster than the historic average between May 15 and 21 in Greenland, the result of a record heat wave. France hears “Reinvesting massively in the knowledge of these ecosystems”in the tradition of the Paul-Emile Victor explorer, which made multiple expeditions on the island, underlines the Elysée.
Greenlandic authorities have recently classified its refuge, the “French polar expeditions base camp” Built in 1950 in Quervain Bay (North), as a historic building.
Unlike Denmark, Greenland is not part of the European Union, but is registered on the list of overseas territories associated with the EU. “This will be an opportunity to mention the best possible architecture, the best possible place or the best possible cooperation scheme between the European Union and Greenland”notes the Elysée.
Source: Lemonde