The escalating tensions with the United States over Greenland are thrusting Europe into a dilemma as it tries to uphold the principle of sovereignty while avoiding direct confrontation with its long-time ally, French experts said.
Since the repeated demands made by U.S. President Donald Trump to control Greenland, France has been particularly proactive in making its position clear on the issue among the European countries.
Following a private message in which French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his dissatisfaction with U.S. President Donald Trump, Macron lent his support to Greenland by speaking Greenlandic and Danish during his meeting with visiting Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen in Paris on Wednesday.
France's posture, to some extent, reflects the fundamental position held by most European nations that the U.S. ambition to acquire Greenland is "unacceptable."
"I don't see the Europeans accepting the idea of annexation. It would be a terrible blow. The Danes would not accept it and the Europeans massively would reject it. Because, in terms of European credibility, it would be a huge blow, a terrible defeat for the Europeans, a terrible defeat," said Zaki Laidi, a professor of international relations at the Paris Institute of Political Studies (Sciences Po).
Adhering to principles while avoiding direct confrontation with the United States is precisely the dilemma currently facing France and other European nations. With sustained pressure from the United States, Europe finds itself caught between its stance and its actions, with the unity of the European Union undergoing a severe test.
"No European country will open fire on American troops, of course. So it will be really easy for America. Don't forget that in several countries of the European Union, the radical rise is rising. They are not in favor of the European Union, so a lot of things may change. Yes, if Donald Trump invades Greenland, it may be the beginning of the end of the European Union," said Romuald Sciora, a research fellow at the French Institute for International and Strategic Affairs (IRIS).
Greenland, the world's largest island, is a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, with Copenhagen retaining control over defense and foreign policy. Since returning to office in 2025, Trump has repeatedly expressed a desire to "obtain" Greenland, a move that has been repeatedly rejected by Europe.
Escalating tensions with US over Greenland thrusts Europe into dilemma: French experts
