US President-elect Donald Trump delivers remarks at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, US, January 7, 2025.
Carlos Barria | Reuters
US President-elect Donald Trump's relentless pursuit of Greenland may have caused concern in Denmark, which retains sovereignty over the Arctic island, but his territorial ambitions appear to be gaining traction in an unlikely region: Russia.
Well-known political experts close to Russian President Vladimir Putin have already expressed their support for Trump he expressed his ambition again buy Greenland and expand US territory to include this resource-rich island – commenting that such a move would confirm the expansionist territorial ambitions of every other country, and most importantly, Russia.
In December, Trump stated on his social media platform Truth Social that he viewed “ownership” of Greenland as essential to the economic and national security of the United States, reiterating an offer to purchase the island made in first term as president.
On Tuesday, Trump doubled down on those comments and said he would not rule out using force to seize Greenland as well as the Panama Canal. Trump also discussed the idea of turning Canada into the 51st state and changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the American Gulf.
Donald Trump confirmed on January 6, 2024, that his eldest son Don Jr plans to visit Greenland, two weeks after the US president-elect suggested that Washington annex the autonomous territory of Denmark.
Ida Marie Odgaard Af | Getty Images
Trump's comments were condemned in Europe, with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot saying on Wednesday that the European Union would not tolerate attacks on its sovereign borders.
“Might is Right”
However, the president-elect's position was welcomed by Moscow and was largely positively reported by Russian state media and political figures.
Russian TV presenter and Kremlin ally Vladimir Soloviev, host of a debate on Trump's remarks on his primetime show, said Trump's position essentially gives Moscow the right to demand the restoration of its own former Soviet empire, including the Baltic nations of Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia .
Other pro-Kremlin experts on the panel said Trump's ambitions validated Russia's decision to launch its own “special military operation” against Ukraine. Kremlin propagandist Soloviev, a staunch supporter of a full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, commented that “what Trump is doing is of great benefit to us,” adding that the president-elect “completely dispels any illusions anyone might have had about the summit.” democracy, about respecting the opinions of NATO allies.”
“It's like he's saying, 'Who are you all? You are all nobody. I will talk to Putin and Xi Jinping. As for you, who are you? Deliver Greenland. He's a great guy, an amazing guy,” he added.
CNBC has reached out to the Kremlin for comment on Trump's position and is awaiting a response.
Analysts say it is highly likely that Russia's leaders are watching Trump's proposals with interest – regardless of how feasible or not they may be. After all, they note, Russia has already shown with its invasion of Ukraine in 2022 that it is willing to violate international law and territorial sovereignty to achieve its own geopolitical ambitions.
“Russian propagandists and Russian state media are very happy to bathe in news about extraterritorial threats and desires for unilateral aggression on the part of Trump, because these are obviously things that they themselves spread when Vladimir Putin was after them” – Max Hess, a fellow at the Institute for Policy Research Foreign Affairs and author of the book “Economic War: Ukraine and the Global Conflict between Russia and the West” – he told CNBC on Wednesday.
Close supporters of Russian policy say Trump's stance could energize Russia's leaders because it confirms potential further attempts to expand Russia's sphere of influence and power.
“The West argues that Putin's invasion of Ukraine and territorial land grab are illegal and contrary to international law. The same message was sent to Israel regarding the expansion of settlements. “The message to China was not to view Russia's invasion of Ukraine as a green light for a similar invasion of Taiwan – they should face serious international consequences,” Timothy Ash, emerging markets strategist at BlueBay Asset Management, said in emailed comments on Wednesday.
“Yet yesterday, Trump's pantomime performance sent a clear signal that the great powers do have, or according to Trump, 'spheres of influence' – which is consistent with Putin's world view,” Ash added, warning that Trump had significantly weakened NATO's attention with his actions.
“Make Greenland Great Again”
The Kremlin did not comment on Trump's official comment on Greenland, which lies between the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic, but it will likely monitor developments closely given its own interests in the Arctic. a region where it has expanded its political, economic and military influence in recent decades.
Greenland is an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark, but has ties to the US, and US military facilities were built on the island after World War II. During the war, Denmark was occupied by Nazi Germany, prompting Copenhagen and the United States to sign an agreement in 1941 giving the U.S. control of Greenland's defense.
A view of Pituffik Space Base (formerly Thule Air Base) in Greenland, October 4, 2023. The base changed its name earlier in 2023.
Ritzau Scanpix | Via Reuters
Denmark is vocally opposed to Trump's ambitions to take over the island, and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen described the idea as “absurd” when Trump first mooted it in 2019.
This opinion was repeated by Greenland after Trump's December statements with Prime Minister Mute Egede saying: “We are not for sale and we will not be for sale” and that “Greenland belongs to the nation of Greenland.”
However, Trump's statements appear to have shocked Denmark, which has been trying to reassert its authority and ownership of the island in recent weeks.
The announcement was made in Copenhagen a few hours after Trump's December comments would increase defense spending in Greenland provide it with a “stronger presence in the Arctic”. Then on Monday it was announced that King Frederick X of Denmark had updated his historic coat of arms to give Greenland and the Faroe Islands greater symbolic importance and solidify them as a central part of the Danish kingdom.
Apparently undeterred by Greenland and Denmark's cool approach, Trump announced on Monday that his son Donald Trump Jr. pays an impromptu visit to the island.
Donald Trump Jr. visits Nuuk, Greenland on Tuesday, January 7, 2025. Donald Trump Jr. is on a private visit to Greenland.
Emil Stach | Via Reuters
I confirm my visit to Truth Social, Trump said: “My son Don Jr and various representatives will travel there to visit some of the most wonderful areas and monuments. Greenland is an amazing place and the people will benefit greatly if and when it becomes part of our nation. We will protect and nurture it from the very cruel outside world.
Danish broadcaster Dr announced that Donald Trump Jr. arrived in Greenland on Tuesday but said no meetings were scheduled with members of the government.
The Danish Foreign Ministry told NBC News: “We have noted Donald Trump Jr.'s planned visit. in Greenland. As this is not an official American visit, the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs has no further comment on this visit.”