Donald Trump is putting pressure on Europe over Greenland. The President of the United States has claimed the U.S. needs the Arctic island for national security, warning that if they don’t secure it, Russia and China will. Now, Russia has broken its silence with a chilling response.
For years, Donald Trump has argued that the U.S. needs Greenland for national security. In recent months, his rhetoric has become more aggressive, not ruling out taking the island—part of the Danish Royal Kingdom—by military force.
Europe has remained firm in the face of Trump’s threats, with Danish allies defending Greenland. In response, Trump threatened to impose 10% tariffs on U.S. allies Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Finland beginning February 1. If no agreement is reached by June 1, those tariffs would rise to 25%.
Europe has countered by threatening to impose its own tariffs on the U.S. Trump has traveled to Davos, Switzerland, for the annual World Economic Forum, and early Tuesday he said he would tell European leaders the U.S. “has to have” Greenland. He added that there is “no going back” on his plan, stating that “Greenland is imperative for national and world security.”
Russia gives chilling response amid Trump’s Greenland threats
As part of his argument for claiming Greenland, Trump has said that if the U.S. doesn’t take it, Russia or China will. However, both Russian and Chinese officials have rejected those allegations of territorial ambitions. The Danish military has also stated there is no significant threat from either country.
Now, Russia has broken its silence over Trump’s threat to take Greenland. According to Reuters, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov claimed Greenland was “not a natural part” of Denmark. He also said the issue of former colonial territories is becoming increasingly critical.
Speaking at a news conference in Moscow on Tuesday, Lavrov insisted Russia had no interest in interfering in Greenland’s affairs and stated that the U.S. knew Moscow had no plans to take control of the island.
“In principle, Greenland is not a natural part of Denmark, is it?” Lavrov said. “It was neither a natural part of Norway nor a natural part of Denmark. It is a colonial conquest. The fact that the inhabitants are now accustomed to it and feel comfortable is another matter.”
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