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

The Kremlin said Thursday that it is closely monitoring President-elect Donald Trump’s continued efforts to reach Greenland.

Earlier this week, Trump He said that he did not rule out the use of military force to seize the strategically important island in the Arctic, which is an autonomous region of Denmark, saying that this was in the economic and national interest of the United States.

Trump’s comments have found some support among pro-Kremlin figures in Russia, with a number close to the president Vladimir Putin They say that any US move to claim Greenland would legitimize Russia’s expansionist goals And ambitions to restore former Soviet territories, such as the Baltic states, to its sphere of influence and power.

European leaders have done so President-elect Trump warned against seizing GreenlandSaying such a move would violate international borders, while Denmark and Greenland stated that the island, where a 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 monitoring the rhetoric on these topics emanating from Washington with great interest,” Peskov said in an email comment to CNBC, translated by Google.

In the Kremlin’s first public comments on the matter, Peskov earlier told reporters that Trump’s claims “probably relate more to bilateral relations between the United States and Denmark,” according to the comments. As reported by the Russian news agency TASS Translated by Google.

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

Trump said on his social media platform Truth Social in December that he views “ownership” of Greenland as essential to the US economy and national security, reiterating a bid for the island he made in his term. First term as president.

On Tuesday, Trump stressed those statements and said that he did not rule out the use of force to control Greenland as well as the Panama Canal. Trump also proposed the idea of ​​turning Canada into the 51st state and changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to America’s Gulf.

Trump’s statements were condemned in Europe, where French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Wednesday that the European Union would not tolerate attacks on its sovereign borders.

It is very likely that Trump’s proposals – however feasible or not – will be viewed with interest by the Russian leadership, especially in light of its own interests in the Arctic. It is a region where it has expanded its political, economic and military influence in recent decades.

Greenland is an autonomous region within the Kingdom of Denmark but has links to the United States, as American military installations were established on the island after World War II. During the war, Nazi Germany occupied Denmark, prompting Copenhagen and the United States to sign an agreement in 1941 to give the United States control over the defense of Greenland.

Greenland echoed this sentiment after Trump’s comments in December, with Prime Minister Miot Egede Saying: “We are not for sale and we will never be for sale” and that “Greenland belongs to the people of Greenland.”

However, Trump’s comments appear to have shaken Denmark, as it has sought to impose its authority and ownership over the island in recent weeks.

Hours after Trump’s statements in December, Copenhagen announced this It would increase defense spending in Greenland To give it a “stronger presence in the Arctic.” It was then announced on Monday that King Frederik

It seems that Trump did not hesitate to deal with Greenland and Denmark, as he announced on Monday that his son, Donald Trump Jr., would make an impromptu visit to the island.

Confirm the visit on the social truth channel, Trump said“My son, Don Jr., and many of the actors, will travel there to visit some of the most amazing areas and attractions. Greenland is a wonderful place, and people will benefit greatly if and when it becomes part of our nation,” Trump said. “We will protect and cherish it from the evil outside world.” Extremely. Let’s make Greenland great again!