Russia is monitoring the situation in Greenland, while Europe remains wary of comments made by Trump

Russia has indicated that it is closely monitoring developments regarding Greenland, particularly in light of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump‘s comments about potential military or economic actions to assert control over the territory, which is currently under Danish sovereignty.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov addressed reporters on Thursday, stating, “We are observing this rather dramatic development of the situation, but thankfully, it remains at the level of statements for now.”

Peskov further emphasized, “The Arctic region is a critical area of our national and strategic interests. We are actively present in the Arctic and will maintain our presence there.”

Greenland, which predominantly lies above the Arctic Circle, has been a part of the Kingdom of Denmark since 1953, although it operates with its own government.

National security

During a news conference in Florida on Tuesday, Trump asserted that the United States requires Greenland for security reasons and did not dismiss the possibility of employing economic or military strategies to secure it.

“People really don’t even know if Denmark has any legal right to it. But if they do, they should give it up because we need it for national security. That’s for the free world. I’m talking about protecting the free world,” Trump stated.

Chinese and Russian naval presence is widespread in the region, and we will not allow that to continue, he stated.

Greenland, like much of the Arctic, is experiencing rapid warming, which is altering the geopolitical landscape, according to analyst Liana Fix from the Council on Foreign Relations.

“The Arctic is increasingly becoming a battleground for great power competition and rivalry. The United States is worried about losing its influence in this area,” Fix noted.

“As the Arctic becomes more accessible for trade and the extraction of critical minerals, particularly rare earth elements, it is also evolving into a more militarized zone,” she explained, highlighting Russia’s collaboration with the Chinese coast guard in the region.

Not for sale

Denmark has firmly stated that Greenland is not for sale. Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen dismissed the notion that Trump’s remarks posed a foreign policy crisis for his administration.

“I perceive a president entering the White House with a heightened interest in the Arctic, which I can understand. We share that focus from the Danish perspective, as well as within NATO,” Rasmussen remarked on Wednesday.

Denmark is currently confronted with a significant challenge, according to analyst Fix.

“It is evident that enhanced collaboration with the United States, particularly regarding investments in Greenland and military partnerships, would benefit all parties involved,” Fix stated in an interview with VOA.

While several European leaders dismissed Trump’s remarks, most refrained from openly criticizing the incoming U.S. president.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz emphasized that fundamental Western values are at stake.

“The principle of inviolability of borders is applicable to every nation, irrespective of its location, whether to the east or west of us,” he remarked.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot took a firmer stance, asserting, “It is unacceptable for the European Union to allow any country, starting with Russia, to dictate its sovereign borders,” he stated on Wednesday.

Greenland independence

In terms of Greenland’s future, the local government is advocating for a referendum on complete independence, asserting that the decision should rest solely with its people.