A local MP just completed a key diplomatic mission, in support of an ally that has been under constant fire from another ally (in theory).
I would like to say a warm welcome back to Hastings – Lennox and Addington – Tyendinaga MP Shelby Kramp-Neuman, who has wrapped up a three-day diplomatic trip to Greenland.
She made the trip with Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand and the Governor General to advance Canada’s economic, diplomatic, defence and sovereignty priorities in the Arctic. Part of that was the opening of a new Canadian consulate in Greenland’s capital city of Nuuk.
This mission (of course) had several priorities including strengthening our partnership with the Kingdom of Denmark, supporting Greenland’s sovereignty, and reinforcing Arctic security.
Really though, the top priority was to send a strong message of solidarity to U.S. President Donald Trump.
Despite the fact that the U.S. has a huge military base in Greenland already, and could increase that presence at any time, many threats to either purchase or conquer Greenland have been made over the past year.
Canada and many European nations stood strong and even sent a small number of troops to Greenland for a training mission as a deterrent, which seems to have worked (since the chatter has died down recently).
That mutual respect, support and defence must continue moving forward and the opening of the consulate in Nuuk is a great next step which also sends a message to hostile world powers, no matter what hemisphere they occupy.
I’m Paul Martin and that’s what I see looking Beyond the Headlines.
