France becomes the first EU nation to establish a consulate in Greenland.
France officially opened its consulate in Greenland’s capital, Nuuk, on Friday, against a backdrop of rising geopolitical tensions in the Arctic. The move fulfils a pledge made by President Emmanuel Macron during his visit to the island last June and strengthens France’s diplomatic footprint in the region.
With this step, France becomes the first European Union member state to establish a consulate general in Greenland, moving ahead of its partners in the 27-nation bloc. The EU is already present on the island through a European Commission office that opened in 2024.
Jean-Noël Poirier, former French ambassador to Vietnam, has been appointed as France’s representative in Nuuk. He will serve in this semi-autonomous Danish territory, home to about 56,000 people.
Until now, French citizens in Greenland depended on a limited consular system. An honorary consul, Kristine Winberg, handled basic administrative and consular services on behalf of the French embassy in Denmark, including issuing identity documents, assisting in legal matters or deaths, and maintaining links with the small French community, according to BFM TV.
A diplomatic source told Euronews that only eight French nationals are officially registered in Nuuk, though as many as thirty may be living across Greenland.
Despite the modest size of the French population, the new consulate will take on a broader mandate. Beyond administrative support, it will aim to expand cooperation with Greenland in cultural, scientific, and economic areas, while also strengthening political relations with local authorities, the French foreign ministry said in a statement.
Paris says the initiative is intended to deepen ties between Greenland, France, and the EU in a region that has become a focal point of friction between Europe and the United States. Tensions have intensified following repeated calls by US President Donald Trump for Washington to take control of Greenland, which is part of the Kingdom of Denmark.
The United States considers the island strategically vital for missile defence and protection against perceived threats from Russia and China.
France and Canada—both opposed to any US takeover of Greenland—have each opened consulates in Nuuk. Recent developments have also prompted the creation of a dialogue framework involving the US president and the NATO secretary general on Greenland’s future.
In addition, a working group comprising US, Danish, and Greenlandic representatives has been established, although details of its discussions have not been made public.