Murmansk, Russia| Russian President Vladimir Putin has cautioned against dismissing U.S. President Donald Trump’s controversial proposal to annex Greenland, emphasizing that the plan reflects serious strategic intentions rather than mere rhetorical bluster.
Speaking at the “Arctic – Territory of Dialogue” forum held in the far northwestern city of Murmansk on the 27th, Putin addressed the geopolitical implications of Trump’s statement, which has stirred debate both in the West and across global diplomatic circles.
According to Russian state news agencies TASS and RIA Novosti, the Russian leader warned against viewing the U.S. president’s remarks as unserious.
“It would be a mistake to regard President Trump’s plan as simply absurd rhetoric from the new U.S. administration,” Putin said. “We are talking about serious U.S. plans for Greenland — and these plans have deep historical roots.”
Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, holds significant geostrategic value due to its location in the Arctic, an increasingly contested region.
As climate change opens up new maritime routes and resource opportunities, global powers including the United States, Russia, and China have intensified their focus on the Arctic.
Putin stressed that the Arctic is becoming a central arena of global strategic rivalry. “The role and importance of the Arctic are growing — not just for Russia, but for the entire international community,” he noted.
“Regrettably, alongside this growing interest, we are also seeing an intensification of geopolitical competition in the region.”
Trump’s push for Greenland’s annexation, though previously ridiculed by critics and even dismissed as unrealistic by some European officials, is now being interpreted by Moscow as a calculated move aimed at expanding U.S. influence in the Arctic.
Analysts believe that if Greenland were to come under U.S. sovereignty, it would significantly bolster the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) strategic posture in the High North — a development Russia views with increasing wariness.
“More and more, NATO countries are labeling the Far North as a potential springboard for conflict,” Putin stated.
“Russia has never posed a threat to anyone in the Arctic, but we will continue to observe the evolving situation closely and respond appropriately.”
Though Trump’s proposal has not materialized into formal policy, and Denmark has firmly rejected the idea, Putin’s remarks suggest that Russia is treating the matter with gravity amid broader concerns about Western military encroachment in the polar region.
His comments also reflect a growing consensus in Moscow that the Arctic is no longer a buffer zone of peace, but a potential flashpoint in the emerging multipolar world order.
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