Russia keeping close eye on Trump’s claim to Greenland

The Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said that Russia is assessing the situation, the US President-elect, Donald Trump, refused to stop the army from taking Greenland from Denmark.

Peskov said the Arctic was in “the territory of nationalism and Russian strategy and it wants peace and stability there”.

Trump’s comments on Greenland – an independent part of Denmark – have prompted warnings from European leaders.

EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas stressed that “we must respect the integrity and sovereignty of Greenland”, and Germany’s Olaf Scholz made it clear that “the border should not be moved violently”.

Mr Trump said earlier this week that the US needed Denmark and the Panama Canal “for economic security”, and refused to rule out the use of economic or military force to seize them.

He also referred to the border with Canada as a “fraudulently drawn line”. Denmark and Canada are both close NATO allies to the US.

Dmitry Peskov said that what Mr. Trump is saying is a matter for the US, Denmark and other countries, but Russia sees “strange” events in his speech. “We are present in the Arctic zone, and we will continue to be present there,” he said.

The outgoing Secretary of State of the United States, Antony Blinken, wanted to reduce concerns about what the president-elect said during his visit to Paris: “The idea is … obviously not good, but perhaps more importantly, it is obviously one that will not happen.”

About 56,000 people live in Greenland, and it is home to the US and a Danish military base. It also has vast untapped mineral and oil reserves.

Greenland’s Prime Minister, Mute Egede, has been pushing for independence, even though the region’s economy is heavily dependent on Danish aid.

Both the Danish leader emphasized that it is “not for sale” and that its future is in the hands of the people of Greenland.

UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy criticized Mr Trump’s comments, although he acknowledged “the frequency of his rhetoric and the sometimes vague nature of what he has said can be confusing”.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has said that Copenhagen is interested in ensuring that the US – its “closest ally” – will play a bigger role at a time of rising tensions in the North Atlantic, especially in Russia.

The European Commission said Trump’s threat to Greenland was “highly speculative” and “absurd”, considering that he had not yet taken office.

However, it has confirmed that Greenland, as an external territory, complies with the mutual aid clause which requires all EU countries to help in the event of an attack.

The Kremlin laughed off Europe’s response, saying it acted “shyly … almost in a whisper”.

Last week, Greenland’s leader said the region must free itself from “colonial shackles”, although he did not mention the US.

Greenland’s former foreign minister, Pele Broberg, who now leads the main opposition party, told the BBC that most Greenlanders he spoke to believe the US is important to their security and safety.

“We are part of the North American continent, that’s why US security is in a very good position in terms of Greenland, because we create a safe haven that doesn’t have to fight.”

He called for a “free trade agreement” with the US on trade and security that would give Greenland independence but give the US a security role.

Trump’s supporters have promoted his views on Greenland.

Keith Kellogg, chosen by Trump to end the war in Ukraine, said that many of the words of the president-elect in Greenland were clear, “putting the United States in the position of world leadership”.

Republican leader Mike Walz told Fox News that the issue “isn’t just about Greenland, it’s about the Arctic”, because Russia is trying to control the polar region, and its minerals and natural resources.

“Denmark can be a great partner, but you can’t treat Greenland, which has the capacity to operate, as some kind of backwater – it’s in the Western Hemisphere.”