France to open consulate in Greenland as Trump eyes island

France will open a consulate in Greenland on February 6 amid U.S. President Donald Trump’s stated intention to take control of the island.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot made the announcement in an interview with RTL radio, per Caliber.Az.

Barrot stressed that the opening of the consulate had been planned as early as last year and will take place on February 6.

"Greenland wants neither to be owned, nor governed, nor integrated by the United States. Greenland has chosen Denmark, NATO, and the European Union," the minister insisted. 

The French diplomat also drew attention to the fact that in today’s world “international law is being trampled,” adding that the first days of 2026 have shown that “relations between nations are governed by the law of the strongest.”

Barrot emphasised the importance of supporting Denmark. “What is obviously necessary is to support Denmark, just as we would want Denmark and our European partners to support us if we were in the same situation. This explains the numerous exchanges that have taken place between the French authorities and the Danish and Greenlandic authorities in recent days," he explains.

Since returning to power, Donald Trump has regularly mentioned the idea of ​​taking control of this vast Arctic island. A tense meeting is scheduled at the White House on January 14, bringing together the diplomatic officials of Denmark and Greenland.

By Khagan Isayev