France has received assurances from the United States that it has no intention of invading Greenland, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said on Wednesday, amid mounting European concern over renewed statements from Washington regarding the Arctic island.
Speaking ahead of meetings with European counterparts, Barrot said France is coordinating with partners on a contingency plan should the United States move to act on its threats concerning Greenland.
European coordination under way
Barrot said the issue would be discussed later on Wednesday with the foreign ministers of Germany and Poland, as European capitals seek a common approach.
“We want to take action, but we want to do so together with our European partners,” he told France Inter radio.
He added that France is working with its allies on how to respond if Washington were to follow through on its statements about taking control of Greenland.
Rubio rules out military option
Barrot indicated that the prospect of a US military operation has been explicitly dismissed by a senior American official.
“I myself was on the phone yesterday with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who confirmed that this was not the approach being pursued,” Barrot said, adding that Rubio had “ruled out the possibility of an invasion” of Greenland.
Trump’s renewed push and European reaction
The comments come after US President Donald Trump reiterated in recent days his desire to gain control of Greenland, an idea he first raised in 2019 during his first term in office.
Trump has argued that Greenland is of critical importance to US military interests and has accused Denmark of failing to provide adequate security for the territory.
On Tuesday, the White House said Trump was discussing a range of options for acquiring Greenland, including the potential use of the US military, prompting strong reactions across Europe.
Backing for Greenland
Leaders from major European powers, as well as Canada, have rallied behind Greenland this week, stressing that the Arctic island belongs to its people.
Greenland, the world’s largest island with a population of around 57,000, is not an independent member of NATO but is covered by Denmark’s membership of the alliance. Both Greenland and Denmark have repeatedly stated that the territory is not for sale and that its future will be decided by its residents.