Putin says US push for Greenland rooted in history, vows to uphold Russian interest in the Arctic

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Putin says US push for Greenland rooted in history, vows to uphold Russian interest in the Arctic

By VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV
Updated 2:28 PM EDT, March 27, 2025

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia’s President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that President Donald Trump’s push for control over Greenland wasn’t surprising given longtime U.S. interest in the mineral-rich territory.

Speaking at a policy forum in the Artic port of Murmansk, Putin noted that the United States first considered plans to win control over Greenland in the 19th century, and then offered to buy it from Denmark after World War II.

“It can look surprising only at first glance and it would be wrong to believe that this is some sort of extravagant talk by the current U.S. administration,” Putin said. “It’s obvious that the United States will continue to systematically advance its geostrategic, military-political and economic interests in the Arctic.”

Trump irked much of Europe by suggesting that the United States should in some form control the self-governing, mineral-rich territory of Denmark, a U.S. ally and NATO member. As the nautical gateway to the Arctic and North Atlantic approaches to North America, Greenland has broader strategic value as both China and Russia seek access to its waterways and natural resources.

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Read more: https://apnews.com/article/russia-putin-arctic-trump-greenland-2dbd00625c2c0c3bd94a2c96c7015b69

[Dave Bowman]

1. Shut up, Vlad.

[BeyondGeography]

2. But if you give me Ukraine, I'll give you Greenland

Ok?

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

6. Bingo

[Basso8vb]

3. No, it's not.

[pandr32]

4. This likely has plenty to do with F47's desire to annex Canada.

Pretty much everything going on is on Putin's wishlist.
He is also advising his fat ass-et. I would bet all appointees are Putin picks. Without firing a missile Putin has succeeded in destroying the U.S. and likely is enjoying himself immensely.

[Libloom]

5. Justifying his ambitions

Putin’s comments on Trump’s interest in Greenland could be seen as a calculated move to normalize territorial expansion in the Arctic, a region where Russia has long been asserting its influence. By framing U.S. ambitions as "not surprising" he sets a precedent that can be used to justify Russia’s own actions, whether through resource development, military expansion, or territorial claims. If the U.S. or its allies were to object to Russian moves in the Arctic after Trump expressed similar ambitions, Putin could call out the hypocrisy, reinforcing his narrative that Western powers apply double standards.

Beyond this, Putin’s remarks may also serve to test Western unity. Greenland is under Danish sovereignty, and any serious U.S. push to control it would create friction with Denmark and other NATO allies. By subtly endorsing the idea, Putin sows discord among Western nations while positioning Russia as a pragmatic Arctic power open to cooperation—on its own terms. Whether the U.S. seriously pursues Greenland or not, Putin’s framing helps Russia justify its own Arctic ambitions while subtly challenging the West’s moral authority