Trump Pressures Europe Over Greenland as Russia Issues a Chilling Warning
Donald Trump is escalating pressure on Europe over Greenland. The President of the United States has argued that the US needs the Arctic island for national security, warning that if Washington does not secure it, Russia and China will. Now, Russia has responded publicly—with remarks many are calling chilling.
Trump has long insisted that Greenland is strategically essential to American security. In recent months, his language has intensified, and he has refused to rule out taking the island—part of the Danish Royal Kingdom—by military force.
European leaders have pushed back firmly against the threats, with Denmark’s allies publicly backing Greenland. In response, Trump threatened to impose 10% tariffs on US allies Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Finland beginning February 1. If no agreement is reached by June 1, he said those tariffs would increase to 25%.
Europe, for its part, has warned it could retaliate with tariffs of its own. Trump traveled to Davos, Switzerland, for the annual World Economic Forum, and early Tuesday he said he would tell European leaders the US “have to have” Greenland.
He added there was “no going back” on his approach, insisting that “Greenland is imperative for national and world security.”
Russia issues stark response amid Greenland dispute
As part of his argument for claiming Greenland, Trump has repeatedly said that if the US does not take action, Russia or China will move in. Both Russian and Chinese officials have denied those claims of territorial ambition. Denmark’s military has also stated that it does not view either Russia or China as posing a significant threat to Greenland.
Now, Russia has addressed Trump’s statements directly. According to Reuters, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov argued that Greenland was “not a natural part” of Denmark and said that the issue of former colonial territories is becoming increasingly critical.
Speaking at a news conference in Moscow on Tuesday, Lavrov said Russia had no interest in вмешing in Greenland’s affairs and emphasized that the US understood Moscow had no plans to take control of the island.
“In principle, Greenland is not a natural part of Denmark, is it?” Lavrov said. “It was neither a natural part of Norway nor a natural part of Denmark. It is a colonial conquest. The fact that the inhabitants are now accustomed to it and feel comfortable is another matter.”
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