Friday February 6, 2026 | NUUK, GREENLAND [Posted at 6:30 pm PT | Updated February 8, 2026]
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends [Reporting from Victoria, BC]
The plan to open a Canadian consulate in Greenland was already in the works a year ago.
But due to attention brought to the strategic location of Greenland in the Arctic zone as a result of US President Donald Trump’s interest in having a presence there (or more), has brought national attention to today’s announcement.
Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand delivered some remarks outdoors and helped raise a Canadian flag in front of the building where the Canadian consular office is located. There is reportedly no permanent Consul in place to work at the Canadian consulate in Greenland, so far.
Anand wore a bright red coat in recognition of the maple leaf on Canada’s flag.
Canada’s delegation in Greenland today was at least 100-strong, including members of the Canadian Coast Guard and several Canadian Inuit who took the trip to attend.
Other consulate presence:
The building where Canada’s consulate is located is shared with a consulate for Iceland.
France will soon also be opening a consulate in Greenland.
The United States opened their own consulate in Greenland’s capital city of Nuuk during the first Trump administration.
Strengthen diplomatic relations:
The opening of the consultate is to strengthen diplomatic relations. There is also an expectation that the new formal setup will reinforce respect for the people of Greenland — their democracy and sovereignty.
“What we witnessed is more than the raising of a flag,” said Governor General Mary Simon in remarks posted online.
“Arctic peoples share ties that long predate diplomacy as we know it,” said Simon. “In my own family we regarded Inuit in Greenland as our relatives – as members of one people.”
Cooperation:
“For generations, we travelled across these lands and waters, learning from one another and supporting each other. We shared a language. We shared culture. Families knew each other. Communities exchanged knowledge,” the Governor General said. She is of mixed Inuit and English heritage.
She noted that Greenland and Canada have been a “powerful example” of cooperation, ingenuity and trust, as has emerged from the challenges of life in the Arctic.
Anand today held what she called a “productive meeting” with her Greenlandic counterpart, Vivian Motzfeldt “to discuss Canada’s support for Greenland’s sovereignty and our cooperation to strengthen security and stability across the Arctic”.
Message to the United States:
The opening of a Canadian diplomatic presence in Greenland is in and of itself a practical move for Canada as an Arctic nation.
But the presence of Canada on Greenland territory is indirectly a message of support for Greenland in the face of territorial threat (stated or otherwise) by the United States.
Anand in an interview with CTV today said that the people of Greenland are “concerned and anxious”, given that Greenland has been in the US sights including a threat to the territory’s sovereignty.
Military:
There has been a small Canadian military presence on Greenland for years. As well, the United States has an agreement (going back many years) that allows that country to set up a defence presence.
Meanwhile, Greenland is a part of NATO by being a colony of Denmark.
Prime Minister’s remarks on Denmark:
On February 2, Prime Minister Mark Carney and Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen reaffirmed their support for the fundamental principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity, and reiterated that decisions on the future of Greenland are for Greenland and Denmark alone to make.
The leaders discussed their ongoing work to strengthen Arctic security in Canada, Denmark, and across the region, including through NATO. Prime Minister Carney outlined Canada’s ambitious mission to increase investments in Arctic security, economic growth, and infrastructure, and opportunities to deepen cooperation with the Nordic Baltic Eight and other partners in the region.
The prime ministers reiterated their enduring support for Ukraine against Russian aggression and agreed on the imperative of achieving a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, backed by robust security guarantees.
Carney also met with Denmark’s prime minister in January while in Paris. Frederiksen is also President of the Arctic Council
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