Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that he is taking President Donald Trump’s renewed push to acquire Greenland “seriously,” signaling a potential escalation of Arctic geopolitical tensions as the United States presses forward with its controversial ambitions in the region.
Speaking at the International Arctic Forum in Murmansk, Putin addressed the growing U.S. interest in Greenland following the announcement of this week’s high-profile visit by Vice President JD Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance to the Danish autonomous territory. The trip has raised alarm bells across Europe—and now in Moscow.
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“In short, the United States has serious plans regarding Greenland,” Putin said. “These plans have long historical roots… and it is obvious that the United States will continue to consistently advance its geo-strategic, military-political and economic interests in the Arctic.”
Putin also announced that Russia would increase its military presence in the Arctic, pointing to NATO expansion and troop deployments in Finland and Sweden as justification.
“The number of Russian soldiers in the Arctic will grow,” he added.
President Trump has long eyed Greenland as a strategic asset, citing national security reasons and the island’s location as a critical defense and resource hub. The U.S. already operates the Pittufik U.S. Space Base there, home to a missile early warning radar system operated by the Department of Defense.
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Trump reignited the idea in December on Truth Social, calling control of the island an “absolute necessity.”
But critics across the aisle—and around the world—have dismissed the effort. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) called it an “obsession,” while Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) branded it “strange and random.”
On Tuesday, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen denounced the Vances’ trip as “unacceptable pressure,” reflecting broader unease among European leaders over what they view as an aggressive and destabilizing move by the Trump administration.
Meanwhile, Greenland Prime Minister Múte B. Egede, who has expressed interest in eventual independence from Denmark, told local media the U.S. visit was “highly aggressive” and reiterated his opposition to Greenland falling under American control.
Putin’s comments underscore growing unease in Moscow over what Russia sees as U.S. militarization and influence-building in the Arctic. With climate change opening new shipping lanes and access to untapped natural resources, the Arctic is fast becoming a global hotspot for competition.
The Russian leader warned against Western encroachment, pointing to NATO activities and U.S. infrastructure development as reasons for Russia to “respond accordingly.”
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Despite the controversy, the Trump administration appears undeterred. While no formal negotiations have been announced, multiple White House officials have described the Greenland initiative as part of a larger Arctic strategy, including enhanced military, economic, and scientific collaboration in the region.
Analysts suggest Trump’s move could be a long-game play, intended to leverage Greenland’s political aspirations for independence to sidestep Danish resistance. But with both Denmark and Greenland firmly rejecting U.S. acquisition, the strategy may risk further international backlash and stoke great power rivalries in one of the world’s most sensitive frontiers.
As Putin makes clear, the Arctic is no longer just about climate—it’s a new arena of superpower chess.
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