PARIS - French President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday that escalating tensions with the United States over Greenland constitute a strategic wake-up call for Europe as a whole, while reiterating France's solidarity with Denmark and Greenland.

"Recent events confirm that the situation in Greenland is a strategic wake-up call for all of Europe: on asserting our European sovereignty, on our contribution to Arctic security, on combating foreign interference and disinformation, on the fight against climate change, and on a privileged partnership for sustainable development and reducing strategic dependencies," Macron said at a joint press conference with the leaders of Denmark and Greenland in Paris.

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Macron said France is deeply committed to the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity with all its partners in the European Union, adding that France will continue to defend these principles in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen called for NATO to play a much more significant role in the region and in the High North, including in and around Greenland.

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, US President Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed a desire to "obtain" Greenland, a move that has been repeatedly rejected by Europe.

Belarus to boost strategic deterrence

Also on Wednesday, State Secretary of the Security Council of Belarus Alexander Volfovich said Belarus is strengthening its strategic deterrence, including deployment of the Oreshnik operational-tactical missile complex and tactical nuclear weapons on its territory, to counter growing North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) military activity, a senior official said Wednesday.

Volfovich made the remarks after reporting to President Alexander Lukashenko on the results of a surprise inspection of the country's armed forces.

Volfovich said Western neighbors have significantly increased defense spending, expanded armed forces, and intensified large-scale military exercises near Belarusian territory.

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He described these moves as part of a broader Western strategy to justify military expansion by portraying an alleged threat from the east.

In response, Belarus has prioritized the retention and potential deployment of non-strategic nuclear weapons and precision strike systems on its soil, aiming to prevent aggression through credible deterrence, Volfovich said.

Belarus frames its actions not as escalation, but as a necessary response to an increasingly hostile security environment, he added.

Canada to open consulate in Nuuk

Meanwhile, Canadian Governor General Mary Simon will travel to Greenland in early February and attend the opening of Canada's first consulate in Nuuk, the Office of the Governor General said Wednesday.

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According to a press release, Simon's visit will focus on reinforcing the close historic and cultural bonds between Inuit in Canada and Greenland.

The upcoming trip will mark the first visit by a Canadian governor general to Greenland since 1982.