US President-elect Donald Trump delivers remarks at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, US, January 7, 2025.
Carlos Barea | Reuters
US President-elect Donald Trump's continued pursuit of Greenland may have angered Denmark, which retains sovereignty over the Arctic island, but his territorial ambitions appear to be gaining momentum in an unexpected destination: Russia.
Prominent political pundits close to Russian President Vladimir Putin have already expressed their support for Trump Restate ambition to purchase Greenland and expand US territory to include the resource-rich island – commenting that such a move would underscore the expansionist territorial ambitions of every other country and, most importantly, Russia.
Trump said on his social media platform Truth Social in December that he viewed “ownership” of Greenland as essential to the economic and national security of the United States, reiterating his bid for the island that he had made in his term. First term as president.
On Tuesday, Trump repeated his comments 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.
Donald Trump confirmed on January 6, 2024 that his eldest son Don Jr. intends to visit Greenland, two weeks after the US president-elect suggested that Washington annex the autonomous Danish territory.
Ida Marie Odgaard AFP | Getty Images
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.
“Might is right”
However, the president-elect's stance has been well received in Moscow, with largely positive coverage by Russian state media and political figures.
Russian TV host and Kremlin ally Vladimir Solovyov, who hosted a debate on Trump's comments on his prime-time show, said Trump's position gives Moscow the right to demand the restoration of its former Soviet empire, including the Baltic states of Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia.
Other pro-Kremlin experts on the committee said Trump's ambitions validated Russia's decision to launch a “special military operation” against Ukraine. “What Trump is doing is doing us a lot of good,” commented Kremlin propaganda chief Solovyov, a staunch supporter of Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine, adding that the president-elect “completely destroys any illusions anyone might have about the Ukraine summit.” democracies, on respecting the views of NATO allies.”
“It's as if he's saying: Who are you all? You're all nobody. I'll talk to Putin and Xi Jinping. As for you, who are you? Greenland's handover. He's a great man, a wonderful man,” he added.
CNBC has contacted the Kremlin for comment on Trump's position and is awaiting a response.
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
Analysts say it is very likely that Trump's proposals – no matter how feasible or not – will be viewed with interest by the Russian leadership. After all, they note, Russia has already shown with its 2022 invasion of Ukraine that it is willing to violate international law and territorial sovereignty in order to achieve its geopolitical ambitions.
“Russian propagandists and Russian state media are only too happy to bathe in news of Trump’s extraterritorial threats and desires for unilateral aggression, because of course these are the things they themselves cheered when Vladimir Putin went after them,” said Max Hess, a classmate. at the Foreign Policy Research Institute and author of “Economic Warfare: Ukraine and the Global Conflict Between Russia and the West,” he told CNBC on Wednesday.
Close followers of Russian policy say Trump's position could galvanize the Russian leadership because it validates potential additional attempts to expand Russia's sphere of influence and power.
“The West has argued that Putin's invasion of Ukraine and seizure of territorial territory is illegal, defying international law. The same message has been sent to Israel regarding settlement expansion. The message to China has been not to view Russia's invasion of Ukraine as an invasion.” “It gives the green light to a similar invasion of Taiwan, and they should bear serious international consequences,” Timothy Ash, emerging markets strategist at BlueBay Asset Management, said in email comments on Wednesday.
“Trump's pantomime sent a clear message that the great powers have 'spheres of influence', or are doing so in accordance with Trump – which is consistent with Putin's worldview,” Ash added, warning that Trump had largely undermined NATO with his policies. comments.
“Make Greenland great again”
The Kremlin has not issued any official comment on Trump's statements regarding Greenland, which lies between the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean, but it is likely to monitor developments closely given 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.
A view of the Petovik Space Base (formerly Thule Air Base) in Greenland, October 4, 2023. The base changed its name earlier in 2023.
Ritzau Scanpix | Via Reuters
Denmark has been vocal in its opposition to Trump's ambition to seize the island, with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen calling the idea “ridiculous” when Trump first proposed it in 2019.
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.
Donald Trump Jr. visits Nuuk, Greenland, on Tuesday, January 7, 2025. Donald Trump Jr. is making a special visit to Greenland.
Emil Stash | Via Reuters
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!
Danish broadcaster doctor Reportedly, Donald Trump Jr. arrived in Greenland on Tuesday But he said that no meetings were scheduled with members of the government.
The Danish Foreign Ministry told NBC News: “We have noted the scheduled visit of Donald Trump Jr. to Greenland. Since it is not an official US visit, the Danish Foreign Ministry has no further comment on the visit.”
