As French President Emmanuel Macron’s jet pierced Nuuk’s fog on June 15, Greenlanders like Arnakkuluk Jo Kleist watched in awe. “A president visiting us? That’s huge,” she said, bundled against the Arctic chill. Macron’s stop, the first by a foreign leader since U.S. President Donald Trump’s annexation threats, was a defiant stand for Greenland’s sovereignty, timed just before the G7 summit in Canada. Joined by Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Macron’s visit was a beacon of European solidarity for the island’s 57,000 residents.

Aboard a Danish frigate, Macron discussed Arctic security, climate change, and critical minerals. “Greenland is not to be sold or taken,” he declared, rebuking Trump’s claims that the mineral-rich island is vital for U.S. security. Trump’s refusal to rule out force has rattled Greenlanders, who polls show overwhelmingly reject U.S. control while eyeing independence from Denmark. “We stand by democratic principles,” Nielsen said, praising Macron’s support since Trump’s threats began.

France, the EU’s nuclear power, offered troops to defend Greenland, a gesture Denmark declined. At the UN Oceans Conference, Macron insisted, “Greenland is not for sale,” words Nielsen called “gratifying.” The EU seeks Greenland’s rare earths for sustainable supply chains, with a 2023 mining deal as a start. Macron’s glacier visit underscored climate urgency, with Greenland’s ice sheet melting rapidly.

Nuuk buzzed with excitement, but some, like opposition leader Pele Broberg, questioned the motives. “Is this for Greenland or Denmark?” he asked. Tensions with the U.S. are high—Vice President JD Vance criticized Denmark’s security efforts, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth hinted at annexation plans. Denmark responded with $2 billion for Arctic defense. Macron’s visit irked Trump, who left the G7 early, reportedly over this and other issues.

Greenlanders, like shopkeeper Nanna Frederiksen, hope for allies. “We need the world to listen,” she said. The EU’s mineral push offers economic promise but environmental risks. As Macron headed to the G7, he vowed to raise Greenland’s fate with Trump. Can Europe protect the island? Will Greenlanders decide their path? For now, Nuuk’s flags fly high, carrying their hopes.

Click Here