Vladimir Putin on Thursday threw down the gauntlet for a potential future war in the Arctic as he declared that Donald Trump is ‘serious’ about annexing Greenland.
In an ominous warning Putin declared that Russia is ‘watching very closely’ for Trump’s next move.
‘We are talking about serious plans on the American side with regard to Greenland. These plans have long-standing historical roots,’ Putin told the International Arctic Forum in the Russian city of Murmansk.
His use of the word ‘serious’ underscored how concerned the Kremlin is by the situation.
Putin said Russia has never threatened anyone in the Arctic, but is prepared to defend its interests, and will station more military personnel in the region.
Greenland is a strategically important island in the North Atlantic as a buffer between North America and Russia.
Putin’s comments were his first public intervention on the issue.
It comes as Vice President JD Vance and his wife Usha are on Friday set to visit Pituffik Space Base on the northern edge of Greenland. Trump’s National Security Adviser Mike Waltz is scheduled to go with them.
Russian President Vladimir Putin told the International Arctic Forum that they are closely watching President Donald Trump’s interest in Greenland
In his remarks Putin noted that taking over Greenland is ‘not eccentric talk’ from the Trump administration.
He also pointed out the United States has long had an interest in Greenland, going back to the 19th Century.
‘It would be a great mistake to believe these are some kind of extravagant conversations of the new American administration,’ he said.
‘Nothing of the kind. In fact the United States of America had such plans back in the 1860s,’ he said.
He adding there had been no support in Congress then to annex the island.
The Kremlin sees the Arctic as its area of interest.
Putin wants to increase his country’s flow of commerce through Artic waters as Moscow focuses on partners in Asia and away from Europe, where Western sanctions over his invasion of Ukraine are hurting Russian businesses.
Russia has the longest Arctic coastline of any country, and the region’s massive reserves of oil and gas make it crucial to the Kremlin.
Meanwhile, Trump doubled down on his desire to take over the island.
‘We need Greenland for international safety and security. We need it. We have to have it,’ he told podcaster Vince Coglianese on Wednesday. ‘I hate to put it that way, but we’re going to have to have it.’
‘We need Greenland for international safety and security,’ President Donald Trump said
Vice President JD Vance and wife Usha Vance will visit the U.S. Space Force outpost at Pituffik
Vance, in a video posted online, said he was joining his wife’s trip to the island ‘just to check out what’s going on with the security there of Greenland.’
‘We want to reinvigorate the security of Greenland because we think it’s important to protecting the security of the entire world,’ Vance said.
Originally, Usha was to travel to the island solo, with just one of the Vance children. But the administration changed their itinerary this week, adding the vice president to the trip.
The change in plans also will reduce the likelihood that the Vances will cross paths with residents angered by Trump‘s attempts to annex the island, which is a semi-autonomous Danish territory.
Vance accused Denmark and previous US presidents of ‘ignoring’ the island ‘for far too long.’
‘Leaders in America and in Denmark ignored Greenland for far too long and that’s been bad for Greenland. It’s also been bad for the security of the entire world. We think we can take things in a different direction so I’m gonna go check it out,’ he said in his video.
Additionally, the decision to visit a U.S. military base has removed the risk of violating potential diplomatic taboos by sending a delegation to another country without an official invitation.
Pituffik Space Base in Greenland, where the Vances will visit
Apartment buildings and houses are pictured in Nuuk, Greenland
A young boy walks between residential blocks in Nuuk, Greeland
Greenland leaders made it clear that the U.S. delegation was neither invited nor wanted
Pituffik Space Base
Pituffik Space Base is one of the most strategically important military sites in the world.
It serves as an early detection site for missile launches.
About 150 U.S. Air Force and Space Force personnel are permanently stationed there.
Its name changed two year ago from Thule to Pituffik, which means in Greenlandic ‘the place we tie our dogs.’
Pituffik Space Base
Greenland is strategically important for the U.S. military and its ballistic missile early-warning system.
It holds a commanding position in the Arctic, as a buffer between North America and Russia.
The island, which is three times the size of Texas, has no army and relies on Denmark for protection.
A 1951 agreement between the United States and Denmark established a U.S. right to move around freely and construct military bases in Greenland as long as Denmark and Greenland are notified.
Originally, Usha Vance’s office said the second lady would arrive Thursday in Greenland and return Saturday.
She and one of the couple’s three children had planned to visit historic sites, watch a dog race, and learn about Greenland´s culture.
Greenland’s Prime Minister Mute Egede called the trip ‘highly aggressive.’
Egede noted that ‘it has not extended any invitations for any visits, neither private nor official.’
Denmark blasted the visit, calling it part of an ‘unacceptable pressure’ on them.
‘It is clearly not a visit that concerns Greenland’s needs or wishes. That’s why I have to say it’s an unacceptable pressure being placed on Greenland and Denmark — and it’s pressure we will stand up to,’ Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told Danish broadcasters DR and TV2.
‘President Trump is serious,’ she said. ‘He wants Greenland.’
But Denmark backed down slightly after the American travel plans changed.
‘I have to speak diplomatically here, but in many ways it’s a masterful spin to make it look like they’re escalating when really they’re de-escalating,’ Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen told Danish broadcaster DR on Wednesday.
Løkke also called the visit a ‘positive’ development after his initial fury at the trip.
‘I think it’s very positive that the Americans have canceled their visit among Greenlandic society. They will only visit their own base, Pituffik, and we have nothing against that,’ he said.
Protesters outside the U.S. consulate in Nuuk, Greenland
Polls show that nearly all Greenlanders oppose becoming part of the United States, and anti-American protesters, some wearing ‘Make America Go Away’ caps and holding ‘Yankees go home’ banners, have been seen on the island with some of the protests outside the US consulate in the capital, Nuuk.
Questions remain about why Trump wants the self-governing territory.
The president has said Greenland is important to America’s national security and poorly protected by Denmark. He’s also noted he wants access to its critical minerals.
But mainly he talks about owning it – a desire he originally expressed in his first administration.
He also has pushed for America to retake control of the Panama Canal and has called Canada the 51st state.
‘I think Greenland’s going to be something that maybe is in our future,’ Trump said at a cabinet meeting Monday. ‘I think it’s important. It’s important from the standpoint of international security.’
