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Donald Trump confirmed on January 6, 2024 that his eldest son Don Jr plans to visit Greenland, two weeks after the US president-elect suggested that Washington annex the Danish autonomous territory.
Ida Marie Odgaard Afp | Getty Images
US President-elect Donald Trump’s pursuit of Greenland may have raised the ire of Denmark, which maintains sovereignty over the Arctic island, but its territorial ambitions seem to be gaining traction in an unlikely quarter: Russia.
High-profile politicians close to Russian President Vladimir Putin have already expressed their support for Trump ambition revived to buy Greenland and expand the territory of the United States to include the resource-rich island – commenting that such a move would validate the territorial expansion ambitions of every other country, and most importantly, Russia.
Trump said on his social media platform Truth Social in December that he saw “ownership” of Greenland as essential to the economic and national security of the United States, taking back an offer for the island that he made in his country. first term as president.
On Tuesday, Trump doubled down on those comments and said he would not rule out the use of force to take Greenland, as well as the Panama Canal. Trump also mooted the idea of turning Canada into the 51st state and changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.
Trump’s comments were condemned in Europe, with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot saying on Wednesday that the European Union would not tolerate attacks on its sovereign borders.
“Could be right”
The president-elect’s position found favor in Moscow, however, with largely favorable coverage by Russian state media and political figures.
Russian TV host and Kremlin ally Vladimir Solovyov, who hosts a debate on Trump’s statements on his prime-time show, said Trump’s position essentially gave Moscow the right to demand the restoration of his own Soviet empire, including the Baltic nations of Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia.
Other pro-Kremlin experts on the panel said Trump’s ambitions validated Russia’s decision to launch its own “special military operation” against Ukraine. Kremlin propagandist Solovyov, an ardent supporter of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, commented that “what Trump is doing is very beneficial,” adding that the president-elect “totally destroys all illusions that someone could have even had it on top of the Kremlin.” democracies, on respecting the opinions of NATO allies”.
“It’s like he was saying, ‘Who are you all?’ You are all nobody. I will talk to Putin and Xi Jinping. As for you, who are you? Delivery to Greenland. He’s a great guy, a great guy,” he added.
CNBC has reached out to the Kremlin for comment on Trump’s position and is awaiting a response.
It is very likely that Russia’s leadership will look at Trump’s proposals – however feasible or not – with interest, analysts say.
After all, they note, Russia showed with its invasion of Ukraine in 2022 that it is willing to violate international law and territorial sovereignty to achieve its geopolitical ambitions, and Trump’s position seemed similar.
“Russian propagandists and the Russian state media are very happy to bathe in the news of Trump’s extraterritorial threats and desires for unilateral aggression, because these are, of course, things that they themselves trumpeted when Vladimir Putin pursued them” , Max Hess, partner. at the Foreign Policy Research Institute and author of “Economic Warfare: Ukraine and the Global Conflict Between Russia and the West,” he told CNBC Wednesday.
Then President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin at a joint press conference after their summit on July 16, 2018, in Helsinki, Finland.
Chris McGrath | Getty Images News | Getty Images
Close followers of Russian politics say that Trump’s position could stimulate Russia’s leadership as it validates potential attempts to expand Russian territory.
“The West has argued that Putin’s invasion of Ukraine and territorial land grabbing is illegal, and defies international law. The same message has been sent to Israel regarding the expansion of settlements .green light for a similar invasion of Taiwan — they should assume serious international consequences,” Timothy Ash, emerging markets strategist at BlueBay Asset Management, said in emailed comments. Wednesday.
“Trump’s pantomime show though yesterday sent a clear message that the great powers have ‘spheres of influence’, or do according to Trump – which aligns with Putin’s worldview,” he added Ash, warning that Trump has greatly undermined NATO with his influence. comments
“Make Greenland Great Again”
The Kremlin has not made any official comment on Trump’s comments regarding Greenland, which lies between the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean, but is likely to be watching developments closely given its interests in the Arctic, a region where it has developed its own political, economic and military influence in recent decades.
Greenland is an autonomous territory in the Kingdom of Denmark, but has ties to the United States, with a large American military base on the island since the height of World War II. During the war, Denmark was occupied by Nazi Germany, prompting Copenhagen and the United States to sign an agreement in 1941 to give the United States control over the defense of Greenland.
Denmark has been vocal in its opposition to Trump’s ambition to acquire the island, with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen calling the idea “absurd” when Trump first floated it in 2019.
This sentiment was repeated again in December, with the Prime Minister of Greenland Mute Egede saying: “We are not for sale and we will not be for sale” and that “Greenland belongs to the people of Greenland”.
Trump’s comments appear to have upset Denmark and he has sought to stamp his authority and ownership of the island in recent weeks.
Hours after Trump’s comments in December, Copenhagen announced would increase defense spending in Greenland to give a “stronger presence in the Arctic”. It was then announced on Monday that Denmark’s King Frederik X had updated his historic coat of arms to give Greenland and the Faroe Islands greater symbolic prominence and to assert them as a central part of the Danish kingdom.
Donald Trump Jr., son of former President Donald Trump, prepares to speak during the second day of the 2024 Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wis., on July 16, 2024.
Jim Watson | AFP | Getty Images
Apparently not heard from the cold shoulder of Greenland and Denmark, Trump announced on Monday that his son Donald Trump Jr. made an impromptu visit to the island.
Confirming the visit in Truth Social, Trump said: “My son, Don Jr, and several representatives, travel here to visit some of the most magnificent areas and sights. Greenland is an incredible place, and the people will benefit tremendously if and when it becomes part of our Nation “We protect her, and love her, from a very vicious outside world! Trump said.
Danish broadcaster Dr reported that Donald Trump Jr. arrived in Greenland on Tuesday but he said no meeting was held with members of the government.
The Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs told NBC News: “We have noted the planned visit of Donald Trump Jr. to Greenland. As it is not an official American visit, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark has no further comment on the visit”.
