The Canadian flag was raised and dozens of people joined in a spontaneous version of O Canada on Friday as Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand officially opened the new consulate in Nuuk, Greenland.
"The significance of raising this flag today and formally opening the consulate is that we will stand together with the people of Greenland and Denmark on many issues," Anand said, citing deepening ties on defence, security, climate change, economic resilience and Arctic co-operation.
"The co-operation between Denmark, Greenland and Canada will continue, not just in the short term, not just in the medium term, but in the long term."
Canada announced plans for the new diplomatic mission in December 2024, before U.S. President Donald Trump escalated his threats to annex the Danish territory.
The consulate took on new significance in recent weeks as NATO allies moved to back the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Denmark.
Trump demanded U.S. control over Greenland and only recently stepped back from threats to use force to acquire the territory — after Danish leaders said the NATO military alliance would fall apart if the U.S. tried taking allied territory by force.
At the time, Greenland's government had advised citizens to prepare enough supplies to survive for five days in the event of something like an invasion.
Greenland is an autonomous island within the Danish kingdom. Prime Minister Mark Carney has said repeatedly any decisions about Greenland's future are up to the people of Greenland and Denmark.
Vivian Motzfeldt, Greenland's foreign minister, said the consulate opening is a "historic day."
"This is not just the opening of a building but a further strengthening of the friendship and co-operation between Greenland and Canada," she said.
She told reporters Greenland will follow through on its plan to open a diplomatic mission in Canada, "hopefully in 2028."
Anand told reporters Canadian companies are interested in exporting more to Greenland and there's rising interest in more flights and collaboration on fighting climate change.
"This is much more than symbolism. This is really about building ties," she said of the consulate.
Gov. Gen. Mary Simon was also in Nuuk for the ceremony, as was Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami president Natan Obed.
Obed noted that over 90 Inuit from Inuit Nunangat — the section of the Inuit homeland that is part of Canada — came to Greenland for the occasion.
"We just want to show just how much in solidarity we are with Inuit in Greenland and Greenland generally," he said at the ceremony.
Not far from the Canadian consulate sits the Port of Nuuk, where Ottawa has anchored a Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker. Anand has said that ship is meant to signal Ottawa's support for Greenland's territorial integrity.
She is set to hold a Saturday press conference at the icebreaker, alongside Motzfeldt and Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen.
At a hotel reception following the public event, Obed painted a bleak picture of a world order that is falling apart — but insisted Indigenous self-determination persists.
"We may not live in a time much longer where we can count on the United Nations or NATO or other mechanisms that we have worked on for 50-plus years," he said. "But we know that there are dozens if not hundreds of countries over the world that would be in solidarity with us in this moment."
He added that Inuit have been united by their fear of Trump and his goals.
"This is a scary time for us as Inuit, and I can't even imagine for the Inuit here from Greenland what it is like to read about yourselves in the papers in such ways that are disrespectful — and don't follow the self-determination, the human rights and the territorial autonomy that you have over your homeland," he said.
Simon told the reception diplomacy is a way of life in the Arctic.
"The challenges of life in the Arctic could only be met through co-operation, ingenuity, and trust," she said.
Simon said the consulate "reinforces Canada's respect for the people of Greenland, respect for your democracy, your sovereignty, and your right to shape your own future."
Motzfeldt said that respect is deeply appreciated.
"I want to thank Canada for being a steadfast friend and supporter of Greenland, especially during challenging times," she said.
Picture Courtesy: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi
