Russian President Vladimir Putin has suggested that US President Donald Trump’s push to annex Greenland has “historical roots,” hinting at tacit support for Washington’s controversial claims over the Danish territory.
Speaking at an Arctic forum in Murmansk on Thursday, Putin described US intentions towards Greenland as “serious” and linked them to longstanding geopolitical interests. “We are talking about serious plans on the American side with regard to Greenland. These plans have long-standing historical roots,” he said.
Trump intensified his stance on Greenland on Wednesday, reiterating that the US must take control of the island for national security. “We need Greenland for international safety and security. We need it. We have to have it,” he said during an interview with podcaster Vince Coglianese. “I hate to put it that way, but we’re going to have to have it.”
US Vice President JD Vance is set to visit the US-controlled Pituffik Space Base in Greenland on Friday, alongside his wife, Usha Vance. The visit follows strong opposition from Danish and Greenlandic leaders to Washington’s growing interest in the region. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland’s outgoing Prime Minister Mute Egede condemned an earlier proposal for a broader US delegation visit, calling it “foreign interference.”
Greenland, a self-governing territory seeking independence from Denmark, is rich in untapped mineral and oil reserves. The Arctic island’s strategic position between North America and Europe has made it a focal point of geopolitical rivalry, with increased interest from the US, China, and Russia.
Trump, who previously floated the idea of purchasing Greenland during his first term, has refused to rule out the use of force to assert control. When asked if Greenlanders were eager to join the US, he admitted uncertainty. “We have to convince them,” he said. “And we have to have that land, because it’s not possible to properly defend a large section of this Earth without it.”
Frederiksen dismissed Trump’s renewed claims, warning that US interest in Greenland was not fading. “They know that Greenland is not for sale. They know that Greenland doesn’t want to be part of the United States,” she said. Greenlandic officials have repeatedly stated their preference for independence over US annexation.