Russia has for the first time publicly commented on remarks by US President Donald Trump regarding the possible establishment of US control over Greenland. Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Security Council and a former president of the aggressor state, issued a demonstratively cynical and provocative statement on the matter, according to Dialog.ua.
Medvedev claimed that the seizure of the island could supposedly be “useful for improving the global climate.” In his characteristic style, he attempted to mix geopolitics with threats and outright trolling. He urged Trump to “hurry up,” arguing that otherwise a “sudden referendum” could take place in Greenland.
Medvedev outlined a scenario in which the island’s residents would allegedly vote to join Russia. In that case, he wrote, Russia would gain a new, 90th federal subject.
Such claims appear completely absurd, especially in light of Moscow’s recent geopolitical failures. Medvedev has previously distinguished himself with aggressive attacks on European leaders and, speaking about Trump, even suggested that he could obtain a “new position” by becoming the interim president of Greenland, the portal reported.
It has already been reported that after discussions with other NATO countries on reducing Russian activity in the Arctic region, the Great Britain stated that these were “routine discussions,” Reuters wrote.
On the 10th of January, the British newspaper The Telegraph reported that
military leaders from the Great Britain and European countries are developing a plan for a potential NATO mission in Greenland,
an island whose possible accession to the United States has once again been mentioned recently by President Trump.
According to the newspaper, British officials have begun early-stage talks with Germany, France and other countries on a plan that could involve deploying British troops, as well as stationing warships and aircraft in Greenland to protect the Arctic island from Russia and China.
On the 11th of January, Bloomberg News, citing sources familiar with the matter, reported that Germany—whose foreign and finance ministers are due to visit Washington on the 12th of January—will propose creating a joint NATO mission to defend the Arctic region. Great Britain’s Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander told Sky News that discussions on deterring Russian President Vladimir Putin from expanding in the Arctic are “routine.” She added that the Arctic is becoming an increasingly desirable geographical region, of interest to both Russia and China, and therefore it is expected that NATO countries will develop a plan to deter these states.
Meanwhile, Trump has stated that
Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, should become part of the United States in order to protect it from Russia and China.
He stressed that the protection of the strategically located and mineral-rich island would require more than just the presence of US troops.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, who was set to meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the 12th of January, said that solutions to US concerns about Russian and Chinese vessels near Greenland must be found within NATO operational guidelines. He added that when it comes to the island’s territorial sovereignty, everything is absolutely clear: only the people of Greenland themselves have the right to decide its future.
The US president has not provided evidence to support claims about Russian and Chinese ships near Greenland. Ship-tracking data from MarineTraffic and LSEG also do not indicate any activity by vessels from those countries in Greenland’s vicinity.
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