Canada is opening its first consulate in Greenland this Friday. Senior officials, including Governor General Mary Simon and Foreign Minister Anita Anand, will lead a delegation to Nuuk. They will be accompanied by a Canadian Coast Guard ship. This move comes after US President Donald Trump threatened to take control of Greenland. Trump later softened his stance after talks with Denmark and allies. Simon said in a speech, "Canada stands firmly in support of the people of Greenland who will determine their own future." French officials are also opening a consulate in Greenland the same day. Until now, only Iceland and the US had diplomatic missions there. Michael Myers, a professor at the University of British Columbia, said, "I'm only surprised it hasn't occurred sooner, given the important connections between Greenland and Arctic Canada." Nuuk is just an hour's flight from Iqaluit, Nunavut's capital. The Inuit people of Canada and Greenland share strong cultural ties, reflected in Simon's Inuk heritage. "Her visit is an affirmation at the highest level of the cultural and ethnic connections between Arctic Canada and Greenland," Myers added. Simon, the first Canadian governor general to visit Greenland since 1982, recalled hearing Greenlandic Inuit songs as a child. "These are our relatives who live in faraway lands. We are all one people," she said. Inuit leader Natan Obed said about 50 Canadian Inuit will attend the consulate opening. He noted how US threats against Greenland hit Inuit communities hard because of their shared history and fears over US intentions. Trump justified his Greenland takeover idea by accusing Denmark of poor protection against Russia and China. NBC News reported he also raised concerns about Canada's Arctic security recently. Canada sees Arctic defence as a top national priority. Foreign Minister Anand called it "central to how we protect Canada in our front yard and how we contribute to global security." The government has promised a permanent military presence and over C$1 billion for northern infrastructure. Along with opening the consulate, Simon will meet Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen, and Anand will meet Greenland's Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt.