Foreign relations of Greenland

This article is about the foreign relations of Greenland. For the foreign relations of sovereign state of the Kingdom of Denmark, see foreign relations of Denmark.

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Hans Egede (1686–1758), Lutheran missionary, credited with revitalising Denmark's relationship with Greenland

Being part of the Kingdom of Denmark, the foreign relations of Greenland are handled in cooperation between the government of Denmark and the government of Greenland.

Unlike Denmark proper, Greenland is not part of the European Union (EU). The country's status was changed to an Overseas Country and Territory (OCT) associated with the EU, a dependent territory that has a special relationship with a member state of the EU. However, Greenland remains a part of the Council of Europe and NATO as part of Denmark.

## General aspects of diplomatic relations

[edit]

Main article: List of diplomatic missions in Greenland

With the Kingdom of Denmark having the responsibility for Greenland's international affairs, other countries often do not have direct diplomatic representation in Greenland—their embassies or consulates in Denmark are responsible for their relations with Greenland and their citizens in Greenland. Greenland is represented internationally by both the Greenland Representations and the embassies and consulates of Denmark. Further Greenland participates in the parliamentary Nordic Council and the Nordic Council of Ministers, and organisations as the West Nordic Council and the EU-based Overseas Countries and Territories Association, the latter being former colonies of the EU (dependent countries/territories).

The United States reopened its consulate in June 2020, in Nuuk, after it closed in 1953.[1]

## Diplomatic representations

[edit]

The Premier of Greenland is unable to speak to a foreign leader without a Danish ambassador present.[2] Greenland has representative offices in several countries and otherwise is represented by embassies of Denmark worldwide. The Self-Government Act of 2009 allows the government of Greenland to open diplomatic offices, mainly within areas of full jurisdiction of Greenland, this being foreign trade, industry, fisheries, education, science, mining etc. Further Greenlandic diplomats, representing the government of Greenland, participate in areas of shared responsibilities between Denmark and Greenland, this mainly being observed in the defence cooperation between the Kingdom of Denmark and the United States.[3]

### Current representations

[edit]

Representative Office of Greenland in Copenhagen

*  Belgium
* Brussels (Representative Office)
*  China
* Beijing (Representative Office)[4]
*  Denmark
* Copenhagen (Representative Office)
* Iceland
* Reykjavík (Representative Office)[5][6]
*  United States
* Washington, D.C. (Representative Office)[7]

### Planned representations

[edit]

*  United States
* New York City (Representative Office)[3]

## Diplomatic missions in Greenland

[edit]

See also: List of diplomatic missions in Greenland

### High Commission

[edit]

* Nuuk, Greenland
*  Denmark (High Commission)

### Consulate general

[edit]

* Nuuk, Greenland
*  Iceland (Consulate General)

### Consulate

[edit]

* Nuuk, Greenland
*  United States (Consulate)[8]

### Honorary consuls

[edit]

* Nuuk, Greenland
*  Belgium (honorary consul)
*  Canada (honorary consul)
*  Czech Republic (honorary consul)
*  Finland (honorary consul)
*  France (honorary consul)
*  Germany (honorary consul)
*  Luxembourg (honorary consul)
*  Netherlands (honorary consul)
*  Norway (honorary consul)
*  Russia (honorary consul)[9]
*  Sweden (honorary consul)
*  United Kingdom (honorary consul)
* Tasiilaq, Greenland
*  Iceland (honorary consul)

### Representative Office

[edit]

* Nuuk, Greenland
*  European Union (Representative Office)

## Disputes

[edit]

* Pituffik and Old Thule is a sensitive area, due to the forced removal of the local population when establishing the U.S. military base, handling of removal, compensation of the locals, later incidents aggravated the case.

## See also

[edit]

* Kingdom of Denmark portal

* Greenland and the European Union
* Politics of Greenland
* Proposals for the United States to purchase Greenland

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "U.S. opens consulate in Greenland, months after Trump attempt to buy the territory rejected". National Post. The Telegraph. 11 June 2020. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
2. ^ Jungersen, Rasmus (10 January 2025). "Grønlænderne vil ikke være danskere - eller amerikanere: Her er de vigtigste pointer fra pressemøde" (in Danish). Danish Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
3. ^ a b Kruse, Simon; Mouritzen, Kristian (4 November 2019). "Verdens største ø vil til New York: Grønland lufter nye planer om kontorer i Kina og USA". Berlingske (in Danish). Retrieved 20 February 2020.
4. ^ Greenland now represented in China
5. ^ Kevin McGwin: Greenland names first representative to Iceland, arctictoday.com 28 August 2018.
6. ^ Kevin McGwin: Greenland's first representative in Iceland is a man for all reasons, arctictoday.com 22 October 2018.
7. ^ Philip Stephens: Greenland building closer US relations, prime minister says, ft.com 6 March 2014.
8. ^ Wingate, Sophie (11 June 2020). "US opens a consulate in Greenland, a year after a bid to buy". ArcticToday. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
9. ^ "Consulates in Greenland - Naalakkersuisut". naalakkersuisut.gl. Archived from the original on 30 July 2021.

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Greenland articles

* Greenland is an autonomous constituent country of the Kingdom of Denmark

History|

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