BURSTRussian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday the Trump administration will likely move to acquire Greenland “systemically” after months of swipes at the autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark.
“It is obvious that the United States will continue to systematically promote its geostrategic, military-political and economic interests in the Arctic. As for Greenland, this is a matter that concerns two specific states and has nothing to do with us,” the Kremlin leader told a crowd during his address at the International Arctic Forum hosted in Russia.
“But at the same time, of course, we are only concerned about the fact that NATO countries as a whole are increasingly designating the High North as a springboard for possible conflicts and are practicing the use of troops in these conditions, including with the forces of their new recruits – Finland and Sweden, with which, by the way, until recently we had no problems at all,” Putin said according to translations.
His comments come just a day after President Trump reiterated his intent to acquire the Arctic territory.
"We need Greenland for national security and international security. So we'll, I think, we'll go as far as we have to go," Trump told reporters Wednesday in the Oval Office.
"We need Greenland. And the world needs us to have Greenland, including Denmark. Denmark has to have us have Greenland. And, you know, we'll see what happens. But if we don't have Greenland, we can't have great international security."
During his remarks, Putin addressed the United States’ long-standing intent to purchase the island after the establishment of military bases within the island to protect it from Nazi rule during World War II.
“After the end of the war, the United States offered Denmark to buy these islands quite recently by the standards of world history,” Putin said.
“In short, we are talking about serious plans on the American side with regard to Greenland,” he added.
Vice President Vance and second lady Usha Vance are both scheduled to be in Greenland on Friday with visits slated at an American base in Pituffik further fueling questions about the Trump administration’s intentions in the Arctic.
Usha’s participation in other public events was canceled following days of controversy over military plans shared in Signal group chat with her husband, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and other high-level officials.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is also expected to join the trip to the island that’s rich in raw minerals, a commodity recently identified as desirable by Trump throughout peace negotiations with Russia and Ukraine.
Despite speculation about ulterior motives, the president said the trip is intended to encourage friendly relations.
“This is friendliness, not provocation. We’re dealing with a lot of people from Greenland that would like to see something happen with respect to their being properly protected and properly taken care of. They’re calling us. We’re not calling them. And we were invited over there, and I thought it would be great,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting.
If the U.S. acquires Greenland, it would add to the presence of Western alliances in the Northern hemisphere in areas surrounding the Kremlin’s sovereign borders.
Finland and Sweden were approved for NATO membership in 2024, which grants them access to weapons and other defense resources through the NATO Support and Procurement Agency.
Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, all NATO members, announced their intent to withdraw from the 1997 Ottawa Convention treaty outlawing the use of anti-personnel landmines earlier this month, citing the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine as a factor in their decision.
Putin said Russian leaders are noting the rise in tensions and preparing to respond accordingly.
“I would like to emphasize that Russia has never threatened anyone in the Arctic, but we are closely monitoring the development of the situation, building an adequate response line, increasing the combat capabilities of the armed forces and modernizing military facilities,” the Kremlin leader said.