Canada established its consulate in Nuuk while the first French consul to the Danish territory arrived there on Friday, following the Trump administration’s efforts to acquire the island.

“I am en route to Nuuk for the opening of Canada’s new consulate — strengthening Canada’s presence, partnerships, and leadership in the Arctic,” posted Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand on X Friday morning, later sharing a video of the Canadian flag being raised in Nuuk.

Mary Simon accompanied her.

Although Canada had announced plans for the consulate in 2024, adverse weather postponed its 2025 opening.

“The future of the Arctic belongs to the people of the Arctic. Tomorrow I will visit Denmark and then on to Greenland,” Simon stated in a speech earlier this week. “Let me be clear, Canada stands firmly in support of the people of Greenland who will determine their own future.”

According to a release, Jean-Noël Poirier also arrived in Nuuk on Friday to assume the role of first French Consul General to Greenland.

The French President announced the Nuuk consulate in June, making France the first European Union nation to establish a consulate in Greenland.

The physical French consulate has not yet been established.

“Deep ties of friendship and key joint projects already link France, Denmark and Greenland, allowing all parties to look forward enthusiastically and confidently to the opening of this new consulate general,” stated the French government.

It added, “France reiterates its commitment to respect for the Kingdom of Denmark’s territorial integrity.”

The President has remained insistent on acquiring Greenland, with administration officials asserting that Denmark is unable to defend or control the territory.

“Greenland is one-fourth the size of the United States,” top White House aide Stephen Miller stated last month. “With respect to Denmark, Denmark is a tiny country with a tiny economy and a tiny military. They cannot defend Greenland, they cannot control the territory of Greenland.”

In January, tariffs that would rise to 25% in June were threatened against eight European countries, including France and Denmark, unless they permitted the U.S. to acquire Greenland.

The president withdrew the tariff threat following a meeting during which Trump said a “framework” for an Arctic security deal had been reached.

The U.S. reopened its Greenland consulate in 2020, having closed it in 1953.