Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on Thursday that President Donald Trump’s interest in Greenland aligns with a long-standing U.S. ambition for control over the mineral-rich territory. Speaking at a policy forum in the Arctic port city of Murmansk, Putin highlighted that the U.S. has shown interest in Greenland since the 19th century, even proposing to purchase it from Denmark after World War II.
“It may seem surprising at first glance, but it would be erroneous to consider this merely as extravagant talk from the current U.S. administration,” Putin remarked. “It is clear that the United States will continue to systematically advance its geostrategic, military-political, and economic interests in the Arctic.”
Trump’s suggestion that the United States should exert some form of control over Greenland—an autonomous territory of Denmark, which is both a U.S. ally and a NATO member—has raised eyebrows across Europe. Greenland, serving as a nautical gateway to the Arctic and North Atlantic approaches to North America, holds significant strategic value, particularly as both China and Russia seek greater access to its waterways and natural resources.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance and his wife are scheduled to visit an American military base in Greenland on Friday, although their trip has been scaled back following objections from local Greenlanders and Danes.
In his comments, Putin expressed concerns regarding NATO’s activities in the Arctic and affirmed Russia’s intention to bolster its military capabilities in the region. “We are certainly worried about NATO members identifying the Far North as a potential conflict zone,” he said, noting the accession of Russia’s neighbouring countries, Finland and Sweden, to the alliance. “Russia has never threatened anyone in the Arctic, but we will closely monitor developments and respond appropriately by enhancing our military capabilities and modernising our military infrastructure.”
As climate change continues to reduce Arctic ice, Russia is keen to assert its influence over vast areas of the Arctic, competing with the United States, Canada, Denmark, and Norway for access to emerging resources and shipping routes. China has also displayed increasing interest in the region, which is believed to contain up to one-quarter of the Earth’s undiscovered oil and gas reserves.
“We will not permit any infringement on our country’s sovereignty while reliably protecting our national interests and supporting peace and stability in the polar region,” Putin declared.
While pledging to fortify Russia’s military presence in the Arctic, Putin also indicated Moscow’s openness to broader international cooperation within the region. “The stronger our positions become, the more significant the outcomes will be, and the broader opportunities we will have to initiate international projects in the Arctic with countries that are friendly towards us, and potentially Western countries, should they express interest in collaborating,” he stated. “I am confident that the time will come for such projects to commence.”
Kirill Dmitriev, the head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund and Putin’s envoy for international investment, who participated in discussions with U.S. officials, emphasised the necessity for joint energy ventures. “We need collaborative projects, including in the Arctic and other regions,” he commented.
Source : AP
