Emmanuel Macron reaffirmed "European solidarity" with Denmark and Greenland during his meeting at the Elysée Palace with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and the Prime Minister of the autonomous territory Jens-Frederik Nielsen. Sporting his iconic aviator glasses, the French President stated that the tensions created by Donald Trump have led to the "strategic awakening" of Europe.
Frederiksen acknowledged the need for "strengthening security in the Arctic," but emphasized that this role belongs to NATO and not the United States. The Danish Prime Minister thanked the French President for the support against the threats from the U.S. and for defending "shared values, particularly sovereignty and the right of each country to govern itself."
"Our cooperation extends beyond Greenland and concerns the whole world, regarding the respect for democracy, the rule of law, and territorial integrity," stated Macron, who read part of his speech in Danish. The French President warned that the tensions arising from Greenland are part of a context that goes beyond Trump's annexation threats and have ultimately led to Europe closing ranks on the "strategic and political importance of the region".
During a prior conference at the Parisian university SciencesPo, Mette Frederiksen emphasized the need to strengthen transatlantic ties despite the tensions caused by Greenland and warned that the real challenge for allies is the war in Ukraine: "Russia does not want peace with Europe."
"The world order, as we knew it, has ended," warned the Danish Prime Minister, acknowledging the "unpredictability" of U.S. foreign policy and the feeling of "unease and fear" among the population of Greenland following Trump's statements since the beginning of the year.
"We are deeply grateful to the Americans," declared Frederiksen. "But all this has caused significant disruption and, most importantly, as Europeans, we must do the right thing to protect the freedom and security of our people and our country." The Danish Prime Minister acknowledged the impact that Trump's annexation threats have had on the population of Greenland but assured that her country "will find a way to move forward with the United States".
The policy of "appeasement" towards Trump, led by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, seems to have borne fruit following the U.S. President's visit to Davos. "But we remain extremely vigilant, ready to use the necessary mechanisms if we were to be threatened again," Macron warned, referring to the European anti-coercion instrument.
Frederiksen and Nielsen arrived in Paris hours after their meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who stated during the two leaders' visit to Berlin: "Europe has awakened, and European unity has contributed to the success of the negotiations on Greenland." The German Chancellor acknowledged the need to strengthen security in the Arctic within the framework of NATO.
The visit of the two leaders coincided with the controversy reignited by the publication on the White House X account of a photo manipulated by Artificial Intelligence of a penguin in front of an icy surface, interpreted as an exhortation for the "march of the penguins" to promote the annexation of Greenland.