Canada, France open consulates in Greenland

NUUK, Feb 07 (AFP): Canada and France, which both oppose US President Donald Trump's claim to Greenland, opened consulates in the Danish autonomous territory's capital on Friday, in a show of support for the local government.

Since returning to the White House last year, Trump has insisted that Washington needs to control the strategic, mineral-rich Arctic island for security reasons.

He last month backed off threats to seize Greenland after striking a "framework" deal with NATO chief Mark Rutte to ensure greater US influence.

A US-Denmark-Greenland working group has been established to discuss Washington's security concerns in the Arctic, but details have not been made public.

While Denmark and Greenland have said they share Trump's security concerns, they have insisted that sovereignty and territorial integrity are a "red line" in the discussions.

Canada and France formally opened the new consulates in Nuuk, the island's capital.

"This is a very important day for us as a country, because we're opening our consulate here in Nuuk, Greenland," said Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand at the inauguration ceremony, before hoisting her country's flag over the consulate building to applause from a 76-person Inuit delegation.

"It's a victory for Greenlanders to see two allies opening diplomatic representations in Nuuk," said Jeppe Strandsbjerg, a political scientist at the University of Greenland.

"There is great appreciation for the support against what Trump has said."