following recent expressions of interest by the United States in the mineral-rich Arctic island.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and President Macron are scheduled to meet in the semi-autonomous Danish territory on June 15, hosted by Greenland’s new Prime Minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen. According to a statement released Saturday by the French presidency, the leaders will discuss North Atlantic and Arctic security, climate change, the energy transition, and access to critical minerals.

Frederiksen welcomed Macron’s upcoming visit, calling it “another concrete demonstration of European unity” in the face of a “challenging foreign policy environment.”

The visit comes amid renewed U.S. interest in Greenland. President Donald Trump has expressed a desire to bring the territory under U.S. control.

According to the French presidency, Macron’s trip is intended to “strengthen cooperation” with Greenland in key strategic areas and to “contribute to the reinforcement of European sovereignty.”

Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has repeatedly voiced his intent to gain control over Greenland, citing its vast mineral wealth and geostrategic importance. “We need Greenland for international safety and security. We need it. We have to have it,” he said in a March interview.

The United States has also expressed concerns that Russia and China may be developing strategic interests in the Arctic region. On March 28, U.S. Vice President JD Vance visited the American military base at Pituffik in northwestern Greenland—a move widely seen as provocative at the time.

During his visit, Vance criticized Denmark’s management of the territory, claiming it had “not done a good job for the people of Greenland,” failed to invest sufficiently in the local economy, and had “not ensured its security.” He emphasized that the U.S. has “no option” but to take a significant role in ensuring Greenland’s defense, while encouraging local efforts toward independence from Denmark.

“I think they will ultimately partner with the United States,” Vance said. “We could make them much more secure. We could offer greater protection. And I think they’d be far better off economically as well.” (Aljazeera)