Russia says it is closely following Trump’s goal of “owning” Greenland

The Kremlin said Thursday that it is closely monitoring President-elect Donald Trump’s continued pursuit of Greenland.

Earlier this week Trump he said he would not rule out using military force to seize the strategically important Arctic island, which is a self-governing Danish territory, saying it was in the economic and national interests of the United States.

Trump’s comments have found some support among Kremlin supporters in Russia who are close to the president Vladimir Putin He said that any US move to claim Greenland would legitimize Russia’s own expansionist goals and ambitions to bring former Soviet territories such as the Baltics back into its sphere of influence and power.

There are European leaders the newly elected president warned Trump not to seize Greenlandstating that such a step would violate international borders, Denmark and Greenland declared that the island where the US military base is located “is not for sale”.

Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov told CNBC on Thursday that Russia is closely monitoring the situation.

“We are following the rhetoric on these issues coming from Washington with great interest,” Peskov said in an email to CNBC, translated by Google.

In the Kremlin’s first public comment on the issue, Peskov previously told reporters that Trump’s “allegations are likely related to bilateral relations between the United States and Denmark.” This was reported by the Russian state news agency Tass and translated by Google.

“For now, thank God, (the situation remains) at the level of statements,” Peskov said.

Trump said on the social media platform Truth Social in December that he considers “ownership” of Greenland essential to US economic and national security and reiterated his offer for the island. first term as president.

On Tuesday, Trump doubled down on those comments, saying he would not rule out the use of force to seize Greenland as well as the Panama Canal. Trump also floated the idea of ​​making Canada the 51st state and renaming the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America.

Trump’s comments drew condemnation in Europe, with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot saying on Wednesday that the European Union would not tolerate attacks on its sovereign borders.

It is likely that the Russian leadership is interested in Trump’s proposals – however possible or not – especially given their interests in the Arctic. a region where it has expanded its political, economic and military influence in recent decades.

Greenland is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, but has ties to the United States with American military installations built on the island after World War II. During the war, Denmark was occupied by Nazi Germany, Copenhagen and the United States were forced to sign a treaty in 1941 to give the United States control of the defense of Greenland.

That sentiment was echoed by Greenland after Trump’s comments with Prime Minister Mute Egede in December. saying: “We are not for sale and we will not be sold” and “Greenland belongs to the Greenlandic people”.

However, Trump’s remarks have rattled Denmark, which has sought to seal its authority and ownership of the island in recent weeks.

Copenhagen made the announcement hours after Trump’s comments in December It will increase defense spending in Greenland giving it a “stronger presence in the Arctic”. Denmark’s King Frederik X has updated his historic coat of arms to give greater symbolic importance to Greenland and the Faroe Islands and to affirm them as a central part of the Danish kingdom, it was announced on Monday.

Apparently undeterred by the cold shoulder of Greenland and Denmark, Trump announced on Monday that his son Donald Trump had made a surprise visit to the island.

Confirming the visit on Truth Social, Trump said: “My son Don Jr. and various representatives will travel there to visit the most spectacular sites and sights. Greenland is an incredible place and when and if it becomes part of our nation, people will benefit greatly. We will protect it and make it a very bad place. we will protect from the world.