Kathrine Frich
Talk of Greenland’s future has drawn reactions from Moscow.
A senior Russian official used humour and provocation to weigh in, as Washington renews its interest in the Arctic island.
The remarks come amid heightened tensions over security, territory and influence in a rapidly changing polar region.
A sarcastic warning
Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev joked that Greenland could suddenly decide to join Russia if US President Donald Trump failed to act quickly, according to Interfax.
“Trump needs to hurry. According to unverified information, in a few days there could be a sudden referendum, at which the entire 55,000-strong Greenland could vote to join Russia,” Interfax quoted Medvedev as saying.
“And then that’s it. No new little stars on the (US) flag.”
Medvedev, a former Russian president, offered no evidence for the claim, framing it as a sarcastic response to Trump’s comments.
Trump’s renewed push
Trump has revived his long-standing argument that the United States needs to control Greenland for national security reasons.
He has said the island’s location and natural resources make it strategically vital, particularly to counter Russia.
The idea has been firmly rejected by both Denmark and Greenland.
Greenland is a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, and its leaders have repeatedly said it is not for sale.
Despite the objections, the issue has returned to the centre of political debate in Washington.
Moscow’s interest
Russia has made no territorial claim to Greenland, but it has closely followed developments around the island.
Its position along key North Atlantic routes and the presence of a major US military and space surveillance base give it outsized strategic importance.
The Kremlin has not commented directly on Trump’s latest remarks.
However, Russian officials have previously described the Arctic as a zone of Russia’s national and strategic interests.
Last year, the Kremlin said it was watching the “rather dramatic” debate around Greenland closely.
Sources: Reuters, Interfax, TRT.
