Canada opens consulate in Greenland amid U.S. annexation threats

Canada’s new consulate in Greenland has officially opened its doors, after a ceremony in the capital city Friday.

The governor general and the foreign affairs minister attended, with the minister saying the consulate represents Canada standing with Denmark and Greenland amid threats of the island’s annexation by the U.S.

After operating quietly for several weeks,Canada’s consulate in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, is officially open.

“We will stand together with the people of Greenland and Denmark on many issues,” said Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand.

“Together we look forward to an even closer relationship between our peoples built on mutual respect, understanding and shared interest,” said Greenland Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt.

Anand says the new consulate will allow deeper ties with Greenland and Denmark on defense, economic investment, climate change, transportation routes and ties between people, amid volatility and changing threats on the global stage.

“This is much more than symbolism, this is really about building ties,” said Anand.

Canada’s Governor General Mary Simon also attended, who said in a statement, “the consulate reinforces Canada’s respect for Greenland’s sovereignty, and right to shape its own future.”

Anand raised a Canadian flag while people sang O Canada, and waved Canadian and Greenlandic flags.

Ottawa first promised to open the consulate in December 2024, before the U.S. president began threatening to annex Greenland, but the opening takes on a new significance now, coming as tensions over those threats remain high.

WATCH MORE: White House continues push for Greenland control as global tensions rise

“We had some feverish days there where we thought, ‘oh, it might be imminent’,” said former Greenland politician Tillie Martinussen. “It was scary for sure, I mean people were making emergency plans.”

Martinussen says people in Nuuk bought up all the bullets, generators and most of the rifles, along with enough food and medical supplies for five days, out of concern the U.S. may actually invade.

“We just don’t know when the next reign of terror will come,” said Martinussen. “We know he surrounds himself with a lot of white supremacists, so he has no regard for Inuit people at all.”

Although it is a territory of the Kingdom of Denmark, Greenland’s population is nearly 90 per cent Inuit — many with close ties to Canada’s Inuit population.

More than 90 Canadian Inuit attended the opening to celebrate,including the president of Canada’s National Inuit organization.

“We just want to show just how much in solidarity we are with Inuit in Greenland, and Greenland generally,” said Natan Obed, the president of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami.

A prominent Canadian Inuk lawyer says the new consulate will help strengthen ties between Inuit in both nations.

“We have the same language, different dialects,” said Inuk lawyer and advocate Aaju Peter. “We can learn so much from exchanges and working together.”

France also opened a consulate in Nuuk Friday, with the French ambassador saying it shows solidarity with the arctic island and Denmark, rather than sending a signal to the Trump administration.

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