Macron: “Unprecedented” consequences if U.S. touches Greenland

Macron: “Unprecedented” consequences if U.S. touches Greenland
France's President Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech to French ambassadors at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, 8 January, 2026
Reuters

French President Emmanuel Macron warned on Wednesday (14 January) that any attempt to affect the sovereignty of Greenland, a European ally, would have serious consequences, amid U.S. President Donald Trump’s push to take control of the Arctic territory.

Speaking during a cabinet meeting, the French president said, "If the sovereignty of a European country and ally were to be affected, the knock-on effects would be unprecedented."

Macron stressed that France was “monitoring the situation very closely” and would act in full solidarity with Denmark, which oversees Greenland.

“We do not underestimate statements on Greenland,” he concluded.

The European Commission’s President Ursula von der Leyen also weighed in, stressing the EU’s strong relationship with Greenland and affirming that Greenlanders could rely on European support.

The discussions follow weeks of controversial statements by President Trump regarding Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark.

In his latest statement, on Wednesday, via a post on Truth Social, Trump reitirated his stance that the United States, "needs Greenland for the purpose of National Security.”

“It is vital for the Golden Dome that we are building. NATO should be leading the way for us to get it,” the Republican president stated.

He argued that without U.S. military power, NATO “would not be an effective force or deterrent,” claiming that Greenland in American hands would make the alliance “far more formidable and effective.”

Trump also framed the move as a pre-emptive measure against Russia and China, warning, “If we don’t, Russia or China will, and that is not going to happen!”

The statement comes ahead of a planned meeting at the White House between U.S. Vice President JD Vance and the Danish and Greenlandic foreign ministers.

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