France's president will visit Greenland in a show of EU unity, Danish leader says
Frederiksen and the French leader said they will meet in the semiautonomous Danish territory on June 15Frederiksen acknowledged the 'difficult foreign policy situation in recent months'COPENHAGEN: French President Emmanuel Macron will travel to Greenland next weekend, the Danish prime minister's office said Saturday — a visit by a high-profile European Union leader in the wake of US expressions of interest in taking over the mineral-rich Arctic island.Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and the French leader said they will meet in the semiautonomous Danish territory on June 15, hosted by Greenland's new prime minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen.The visit by Macron, whose nuclear-armed country has one of the EU's strongest militaries, comes as US President Donald Trump hasn't ruled out using force to carry out his desire for the resource-rich and strategically located island to become part of the United States.While the issue of US interest in Greenland has drifted from the headlines in recent weeks, Nielsen said in late April that such comments by US leaders have been disrespectful and that Greenland will never be 'a piece of property' that anyone can buy.In the statement Saturday, Frederiksen acknowledged the 'difficult foreign policy situation in recent months' but praised 'great international support' for Greenland and Denmark.'President Macron's upcoming visit to Greenland is yet another concrete testament to European unity,' she said, alluding to the membership of France and Denmark in the 27-member-country EU.The three leaders were expected to discuss security in the North Atlantic and the Arctic, as well as issues of economic development, climate change and energy during the visit, her office said.
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Arab News
an hour ago
- Arab News
Macron-Meloni rapprochement has ramifications beyond Europe
The disagreements between French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni have been legion. However, both tried to bury the hatchet this week in a move that potentially could help reshape not only European policy but foreign issues too, including the situation in Libya. Italy's Corriere della Sera newspaper described their big meeting on Tuesday as a 'turning point summit,' while Il Messaggero's headline asserted that 'Meloni reconciles with Macron' in a 'thaw.' This amounts to quite the potential turnaround in the relationship between the leaders of the EU's second- and third-largest economies. Yet, this development is not entirely surprising. For much of the post-war era, Germany and France have been the dynamos of ever-closer European integration. However, Macron has had uneven relationships with the three German chancellors he has worked with, and it remains to be seen what will unfold with the latest, Friedrich Merz. While Macron's relationship with Merz could well be better than with Merz's predecessor, Olaf Scholz, there are no guarantees. The French president therefore is looking to continue his long-running project of geopolitical rebalancing by enhancing relationships with other powers in the EU, including Italy and Spain. Macron's outreach to Italy reached its high point so far under the prime ministership of Mario Draghi from 2021 to 2022. They signed the so-called 'Quirinale Treaty' for bilateral cooperation, the promise of which bears similarities to the Elysee Treaty between France and Germany that was designed to rebuild their relationship after the Second World War. Under the agreement, France and Italy committed to enhanced coordination on security, defense, migration, technology cooperation, including 5G and artificial intelligence, and macroeconomics. Moreover, in the realm of European affairs Paris and Rome will seek greater coordination before European leadership summits to try to agree on common positions, a process that has long taken place between France and Germany. The cooperation agreement was first mooted by Macron in 2018 when Paolo Gentiloni was Italy's prime minister. However, relations between the countries deteriorated when Gentiloni's administration was succeeded that same year by the populist government of the League and the Five-Star Movement, headed by Giuseppe Conto. Since Meloni took office almost three years ago, Franco-Italian tensions have resurfaced, including early disagreements over migration, and another at the Italian G7 summit in 2024 over abortion rights. More recently, there have been wider geopolitical tensions, including how best to engage with US President Donald Trump during his second term in the White House, including over trade relations, and also the next steps in support for Ukraine. For example, Macron has sometimes irritated Meloni with his attempts to put together a 'coalition of the willing' to aid Kyiv. The French president has, for instance, hinted at the idea of EU member states putting boots on the ground in Ukraine, a move that would be deeply unpopular in Italy. Should the Macron-Meloni reset hold, it could change the power equilibrium in Europe. Andrew Hammond Last month, Meloni did not attend a working meeting of the Ukraine coalition of the willing in Albania, on the sidelines of the European Political Community summit. Upon returning to Rome the next day, she called on Macron and other European leaders to 'abandon selfishness' and focus on 'the unity of the West.' These several disagreements are unsurprising. Meloni is a right-wing populist who comes from a working class, anti-immigrant background. Macron worked as an investment banker and had an elite education. However, it does appear that both leaders want to try to bury the hatchet. During their meeting on Tuesday, during the French president's first trip to Italy since Meloni became prime minister, they proposed a 'common commitment' on shared challenges, including US tariffs. They said that 'Italy and France, dedicated to their role as founding states of the European structure, aim to strengthen their common commitment for a more sovereign, stronger and more prosperous Europe, above all for peace.' Moreover, a bilateral summit will take place in France in early 2026. The focus for this reset is not only on European issues but those far beyond as well, including Libya and the wider Middle East and North Africa region. Both Macron and Meloni are worried Russia might try to boost its presence in eastern Libya to maintain a foothold in the Mediterranean after Moscow's ally, Bashar Assad, was ousted from Syria in December. Should the Macron-Meloni reset hold, it could therefore change the power equilibrium in Europe. The two leaders have an extensive domestic policy agenda to discuss, including economic competitiveness and industrial cooperation, such as the Franco-Italian carmaker Stellantis, which appointed a new Italian CEO last month. Internationally, there is scope for them to work more closely in concert. Italy could benefit from France's greater influence on the global diplomatic stage, including its permanent seat on the UN Security Council. France, meanwhile, might be able to better leverage Meloni's close relationship with Trump and US Vice President J.D. Vance, who share much of her rightist, populist agenda. Last month, Meloni hosted talks in Rome between European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Vance, with the latter highlighting the Italian prime minister's role as a 'bridge-builder between Europe and the United States' under Trump. Both Meloni and Macron therefore have significant incentives to increase cooperation. However, this reset of Franco-Italian relations will face many challenges, and it is far from certain it will endure until the end of their terms in power.
Asharq Al-Awsat
2 hours ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
France's President Will Visit Greenland in a Show of EU Unity, Danish Leader Says
French President Emmanuel Macron will travel to Greenland next weekend, the Danish prime minister's office said Saturday — a visit by a high-profile European Union leader in the wake of US expressions of interest in taking over the mineral-rich Arctic island. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and the French leader said they will meet in the semiautonomous Danish territory on June 15, hosted by Greenland's new prime minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen. The visit by Macron, whose nuclear-armed country has one of the EU's strongest militaries, comes as US President Donald Trump hasn't ruled out using force to carry out his desire for the resource-rich and strategically located island to become part of the United States. While the issue of US interest in Greenland has drifted from the headlines in recent weeks, Nielsen said in late April that such comments by US leaders have been disrespectful and that Greenland will never be 'a piece of property' that anyone can buy. In the statement Saturday, Frederiksen acknowledged the 'difficult foreign policy situation in recent months' but praised 'great international support' for Greenland and Denmark. 'President Macron's upcoming visit to Greenland is yet another concrete testament to European unity,' she said, alluding to the membership of France and Denmark in the 27-member-country EU. The three leaders were expected to discuss security in the North Atlantic and the Arctic, as well as issues of economic development, climate change and energy during the visit, her office said.
Asharq Al-Awsat
4 hours ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Swedish Ambassador: Swedish Companies Planning on Setting up Regional Headquarters in Saudi Arabia
Relations between Saudi Arabia and Sweden are witnessing rapid development with the expansion of cooperation in the fields of innovation, logistics and services and others. Swedish Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Petra Menander told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Saudi-Swedish joint committee is currently working on further deepening relations. 'In November last year, we agreed on 45 activities across four sectors to improve our cooperation, half of which have been implemented,' she added. 'Sweden and Saudi Arabia are natural partners in the global transition toward a more sustainable, knowledge-based economy,' she remarked. 'The presence of approximately 60 Swedish companies in the Kingdom, many of which are expanding their operations, demonstrates strong confidence in the Saudi market and its long-term potential,' she stressed. 'Saudi Arabia is Sweden's largest trading partner in the Middle East and North Africa. While trade volumes vary year to year, the overall trajectory is one of steady growth. Our bilateral trade grew almost 5 % last year and has increased by more than 90% since 2018,' the ambassador went on to say. Moreover, Menander added: 'As the European Union, we are Saudi Arabia's most important partner for investments and trade and that is a relationship that can grow deeper. Sweden is one of the strongest supporters of free trade within the European Union and we believe that there is a great potential to further increase trade between our countries.' 'Half of the Swedish companies have or are planning to set up regional headquarters in Saudi Arabia, many of them are engaged in local manufacturing in the Kingdom and they invest in research and in training the thousands of young Saudi talents they employ,' she said. She added that Sweden has a strong desire to expand in green energy and smart climate solutions. Swedish companies, such as Hitachi Energy, ABB and Systemair, are contributing to energy efficiency, electrification, and renewable infrastructure. In the fields of logistics and infrastructure, she noted that 'Swedish engineering and design firms are contributing to the planning and execution of major infrastructure projects and have a strong track record in delivering leading solutions for major projects, including within road, rail and air transport with companies such as Sweco, Volvo Trucks and Scania.' Healthcare and life sciences are among the foundations of cooperation. 'Swedish firms such as Diaverum, Getinge, and AstraZeneca are delivering high-quality care and conducting clinical research in the Kingdom,' said Menander. Furthermore, she revealed that Swedish companies, such as Epiroc and Quant, are helping to modernize and decarbonize the mining sector through advanced technologies. Sweden is also a global leader in digital maturity and connectivity. Companies like Ericsson are not only advancing 5G and 6G technologies but also investing in local R&D partnerships, added the ambassador. In terms of smart industry and automation, she said: 'With companies like Tetra Pak, Roxtec and SKF, Sweden supports the development of sustainable and efficient industrial ecosystems.' These areas reflect Sweden's strengths in innovation, equality, and long-term thinking essential for building resilient and future-ready economies, added the ambassador. Furthermore, Menander described ties between Saudi Arabia and Sweden as excellent. 'They are grounded in mutual respect, shared ambitions, and a commitment to long-term partnership. Our kingdoms are united by a forward-looking vision - one that embraces creativity, working together towards sustainability and growth,' she told Asharq Al-Awsat. 'In foreign policy our positions align om many key areas, as was seen during political consultations in Stockholm between Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Eng. Waleed bin Abdulkarim El-Khereiji and State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Dag Hartelius.' She also noted the 'close cooperation between Saudi and Swedish business sectors, where there are great opportunities to enhance the partnership between our two countries.' 'I attended the executive meeting of the Saudi-Swedish Joint Business Council in Stockholm in May, where leading private companies from our two kingdoms discussed new economic initiatives,' she said. 'There about 60 Swedish companies with a presence in Saudi Arabia feel at home and are committed to strengthening their ties with the Kingdom. According to a Business Climate Survey which was conducted among Swedish companies and just published, 91% view the business climate as good or very good and 74% plan to increase their investments.' 'We also see an exciting dialogue in new areas, for instance through Swedish participation in the recent Arab European Cities Dialogue, where participants from Sweden saw many similarities when two regions came together to discuss governance, urban planning, and digitalization for a better future,' stressed Menander. 'We see that the numbers of visitors in both directions between our countries are going up, and we see new partnerships budding almost every day. We see more Saudi film and music appearing in Sweden and we increasingly see Swedish fashion, music and gaming in Saudi Arabia,' she remarked. 'In fact, I often meet young Saudis who know about Sweden because they work for Swedish companies like Ikea and H&M.' 'Finally, we see a great interest in deeper cooperation in the field of innovation. Sweden ranks among the most innovative countries in the world and Saudi Arabia makes impressive investments into building an innovative ecosystem with close links between research and entrepreneurship,' she noted. 'We are happy to see that the cooperation is flourishing, including through institutional cooperation and by visits of start-ups both from Saudi Arabia to Sweden and from Sweden to Saudi Arabia,' continued Menander. 'Our cooperation spans a wide range of sectors where Swedish expertise and values align closely with the ambitions of Vision 2030. During our recent national day celebration, some of our companies displayed examples of how they contribute to these goals,' she said. 'These investments are aligned with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, focusing on sectors such as green transition, healthcare, logistics and smart manufacturing and in many cases also include investments into research and development in Saudi Arabia,' the ambassador stated. 'In parallel, we see a growing interest in collaboration between Swedish and Saudi incubators, particularly to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).' 'In May, Business Sweden, the Swedish Trade and Invest Council in Riyadh, organized two trade delegations to Saudi Arabia. The first focused on infrastructure projects and included Swedish companies specializing in digital solutions, construction equipment, energy, waste management, and air and water treatment solutions. These companies explored how Swedish expertise could contribute to Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 by engaging with several giga projects,' Menander explained.
