Kathrine Frich
The standoff over Greenland is drawing fresh fire from Moscow, as leaders trade barbs and warnings over the Arctic’s strategic value.
With Washington’s intentions still hanging over the debate, the rhetoric is getting sharper by the day.
A new jibe from a prominent Russian figure has now added fuel to an already tense dispute.
Mockery from Moscow
Russia has taken aim at Britain after European countries sent a small security contingent to Greenland amid fears that Donald Trump could attempt to seize the territory by force.
According to the Daily Express, Russian senator Dmitry Rogozin ridiculed the British contribution, which reportedly consisted of a single officer.
Rogozin, a close ally of Vladimir Putin, questioned whether the British representative was a fictional spy.
“Or maybe it’s James Bond and his girls? 29 girls to keep Bond warm in Greenland. One for every February day/night,” he said.
He contrasted the limited deployment with Europe’s posture toward Russia, mocking what he described as a double standard in perceived threats.
A NATO flashpoint
Greenland is a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark and sits at the centre of growing concern within NATO.
European countries reportedly sent around 30 personnel to the island in response to Trump’s repeated statements about taking control of it.
Rogozin suggested the move showed Europe viewed Trump as far less dangerous than Moscow.
“But against Trump and the US, just 30 people. Thirty! They couldn’t even scrape together 40,” he said.
He added that Britain’s role amounted to “one [person]. Without replacements. Without reinforcements. Probably with a thermos and a sense of duty.”
Dire warnings
Beyond mockery, Rogozin also issued stark warnings about the strategic implications of a U.S. takeover of Greenland.
He has previously claimed that Washington’s true aim would be to deploy advanced weapons systems beneath the Arctic ice.
“This is the problem: the US, led by an eccentric, may convince themselves that, finally, thanks to the annexation of Greenland and the deployment there of components of the command and control system for strategic offensive weapons, they have achieved nuclear superiority over Russia and China,” he said.
“This will be the beginning of the end of the world.!”
Who is Rogozin
The Daily Express described Rogozin as a Russian senator appointed by Putin to represent part of occupied Ukraine.
He previously served as deputy prime minister and as head of Russia’s space agency, and was once Moscow’s representative to NATO.
Sources: Daily Express
