Russian Safety Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev mentioned Greenlanders might vote to hitch Russia if US President Donald Trump didn’t transfer rapidly to safe the Arctic island, Interfax reported on Monday (Jan 12).
“Trump must hurry. In response to unverified data, in just a few days there may very well be a sudden referendum, at which all the 55,000-strong Greenland might vote to hitch Russia,” Interfax reported, quoting Medvedev, a former Russian president.
“After which that’s it. No new little stars on the (US) flag.”
Trump has revived his push for the USA to take management of Greenland, a self-governing Danish territory, arguing Washington must personal it to discourage Russia. The US president has mentioned its location and assets make Greenland important for nationwide safety, prompting agency objections from Denmark and Greenland.
Whereas Russia makes no declare to Greenland, it has lengthy monitored the island’s strategic function in Arctic safety, given its place on North Atlantic routes and the presence there of a significant US army and area surveillance facility.
The Kremlin has not commented on Trump’s renewed push, however calling the Arctic a zone of Russia’s nationwide and strategic pursuits, it mentioned final yr that it was watching the “reasonably dramatic” debate round Greenland carefully.
Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine fractured a lot Arctic cooperation. As local weather change opens new routes and useful resource prospects, the area has turn into extra contested.
