Canadian foreign minister calls for solidarity among Arctic nations against 'threats'

By Ilayda Cakirtekin

ISTANBUL (AA) - Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand on Friday called for increased solidarity among Arctic nations to protect themselves against existing threats.

Attending the opening of a consulate in Greenland’s capital, Nuuk, Anand emphasized “the importance of protecting and preserving the Arctic” amid “several threats, including Russian infrastructure, that are moving further north toward the Arctic Circle.”

The minister warned against “many threats, environmental and defense,” and told Greenlandic broadcaster KNR that Arctic nations must “stand together in solidarity” to protect themselves.

She stressed that protecting Arctic sovereignty is "extremely important" to Canada.

"One of the purposes of opening the consulate in Nuuk is precisely for the people of Greenland and Denmark to see that Canada is a long-standing partner,” Anand further said.

Asked about US President Donald Trump's bids to take over Greenland, she said Canada believes in the sovereignty of states and the right to territorial integrity.

The French Foreign Ministry also announced on Friday that Jean-Noel Poirier took office as consul general in Nuuk, as France became the first EU nation to establish a Consulate General in Greenland.

France’s and Canada’s recent moves came amid Trump's renewed interest in American control over Greenland, citing national security concerns related to Russia and China. He also threatened sanctions on European countries that opposed the move to take over the Danish territory.

Trump later withdrew the threats after meeting NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte at the World Economic Forum in Davos, saying a framework for a deal involving Greenland and the broader Arctic region had been established.

Talks between the US, Denmark, and Greenland began last week to resolve the crisis.