Paris, Feb 6 (NationPress) France has inaugurated a Consulate in Greenland, marking its position as the first country from the European Union to set up a diplomatic office in this autonomous Danish territory, according to a statement from the French Foreign Ministry released on Friday.

Jean-Noel Poirier has officially begun his role as Consul General in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, as part of efforts to enhance France's consular outreach, the ministry shared through a post on social media platform X.

President Emmanuel Macron had initially unveiled the consulate project during his visit to Greenland in June of the previous year, and he signed the decree appointing Poirier earlier this week.

Poirier has a background as France's Ambassador to Vietnam from 2012 to 2016. His responsibilities now include fostering scientific collaboration with Greenland, providing guidance to French enterprises interested in investment, and partnering with local authorities to assess the mineral resources beneath Greenland's surface.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot remarked last month that the establishment of the consulate sends a strong political signal and signifies France's commitment to bolster its presence in Greenland on multiple fronts.

Other nations are also expanding their diplomatic representation in Nuuk, with Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand set to open a new consulate there on the same day.

Recently, an official disclosed that NATO has initiated military planning for an “Arctic Sentry” mission aimed at enhancing surveillance amid ongoing tensions between the United States and European allies regarding Greenland.

“We can confirm that planning for Arctic Sentry is underway,” stated a NATO official to Xinhua news agency, while withholding further specifics.

This announcement aligns with earlier communications from Martin O'Donnell, a spokesperson for NATO's Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, who indicated that planning for “Arctic Sentry” has commenced to fortify NATO's stance in the Arctic region.

The establishment of the consulate also follows repeated comments from US President Donald Trump expressing a desire to acquire Greenland, a self-governing region within the Kingdom of Denmark, which has triggered significant opposition across Europe.

Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen shared in an interview with the Danish Broadcasting Corporation on Tuesday that despite resumed diplomatic discussions with the US government, the desire for Greenland's acquisition persists.