Donald Trump confirmed on January 6, 2024, that his eldest son, Don Jr., planned to visit Greenland, two weeks after the US president-elect suggested that Washington annex the autonomous Danish territory.
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US President-elect Donald Trump’s continued pursuit of Greenland may have drawn the ire of Denmark, which retains sovereignty over the Arctic island, but his territorial ambitions appear to be gaining traction in an unlikely quarter: Russia.
Prominent political pundits close to Russian President Vladimir Putin have expressed support for Trump’s policies Reaffirm ambition Buying Greenland and expanding U.S. territory to include the resource-rich island — a move that would validate the territorial expansion ambitions of all other countries, most importantly Russia, the commentary said.
Trump said on his social media platform Truth Social in December that he believed “ownership” of Greenland was vital to the U.S. economy and national security and reiterated his bid for Greenland during his term in office. first presidential term.
On Tuesday, Trump doubled down on those comments and said he would not rule out using force to seize Greenland and the Panama Canal. Trump has also floated the idea of turning Canada into the 51st state and renaming the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America.
Trump’s comments were condemned in Europe, with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrow saying on Wednesday that the EU would not tolerate attacks on its sovereign borders.
“Might makes right”
However, the president-elect’s stance found favor in Moscow, with mostly positive coverage by Russian state media and politicians.
Russian TV host and Kremlin ally Vladimir Solovyov, who moderated a debate on Trump’s comments on his prime-time show, said Trump’s stance essentially gave Moscow the power to demand the restoration of its former Soviet Union rights of the empire, which included the Baltic states of Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia.
Other pro-Kremlin experts on the panel said Trump’s ambitions validated Russia’s decision to launch “extraordinary military action” against Ukraine. Kremlin propagandist Solovyov, an ardent supporter of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, commented that “we benefited greatly from what Trump did,” adding that the president-elect “completely destroyed anyone’s view of Any illusions one might have about this summit”. Democracies, about respecting the opinions of NATO allies. “
“It’s like he’s saying: ‘Who are you? You are all nobody. I’m going to speak to Putin and Xi Jinping. As for you, who are you? Deliver to Greenland. He’s a great man, a great man,'” he added.
CNBC has reached out to the Kremlin for comment on Trump’s position and is awaiting a response.
Analysts say Russia’s leadership is likely watching Trump’s proposals with interest — regardless of whether they are feasible. After all, they point out, Russia has shown through its invasion of Ukraine in 2022 that it is willing to violate international law and territorial sovereignty to achieve its geopolitical ambitions.
“Russian propagandists and Russian state media are more than happy to hear about Trump’s extraterritorial threats and desire for unilateral aggression, because these are of course the things they themselves have trumpeted in their pursuit of Vladimir Putin,” researcher Max Hess, a staff member at the Foreign Policy Institute and author of “Economic War: Ukraine and the Global Conflict between Russia and the West,” said Wednesday.
On July 16, 2018, U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a joint press conference after their summit in Helsinki, Finland.
Chris McGrath | Getty Images News | Getty Images
Close followers of Russian politics say Trump’s stance could galvanize Russia’s leadership because it validates potential further attempts to expand Russia’s reach of influence and power.
“The West considers Putin’s invasion of Ukraine and seizure of territory to be illegal and in violation of international law. The same message has been sent to Israel on the issue of settlement expansion. The message to China is not to view Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as a military operation. Timothy Ash, emerging markets strategist at BlueBay Asset Management, said in emailed comments on Wednesday:
Ashe added: “While Trump’s pantomime yesterday sent a clear message that great powers do have ‘spheres of influence,’ or as Trump put it, they do have ‘spheres of influence,’ which is not the same as Putin’s The worldview is consistent.
“Make Greenland great again”
The Kremlin has yet to make any formal comment on Trump’s comments about Greenland, which lies between the Arctic and North Atlantic oceans, but is likely to be watching developments closely given its own interests in the Arctic. In recent decades, the region has expanded its political, economic and military influence.
Greenland is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark but has ties to the United States, which built military installations 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 that gave the United States control of Greenland’s defense.
Denmark has been strongly opposed to Trump’s ambition to acquire the island, with Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen calling the idea “ridiculous” when Trump first floated the idea in 2019.
Greenland’s Prime Minister Mute Egede reiterated this view in December explain: “We will not sell and will not sell” and “Greenland belongs to the people of Greenland”.
Trump’s comments appeared to unnerve Denmark, which has been trying to establish its own authority and ownership of the island in recent weeks.
Hours after Trump’s comments in December, Copenhagen announced It will increase Greenland’s defense spending giving it “a stronger presence in the Arctic.” That was followed by Monday’s announcement that Denmark’s King Frederik X had updated his historic coat of arms, giving Greenland and the Faroe Islands greater symbolic significance and declaring them a core part of the Kingdom of Denmark.
Donald Trump Jr., son of former President Donald Trump, prepares to speak during the second day of the 2024 Republican National Convention at the Feather Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, July 16, 2024.
Jim Watson | AFP | Getty Images
Apparently undeterred by the cold reception from Greenland and Denmark, Trump announced on Monday that his son, Donald Trump Jr., would make an impromptu visit to the island.
Confirm access to Truth Social, Trump said: “My son, Don Jr., and fellow delegates will be traveling there to visit some of the most magnificent areas and attractions. Greenland is an incredible place and the people will benefit greatly if it becomes part of our country and we will protect it. , cherish it, protect it from the outside world, and make Greenland great again!” Trump said.
Danish Broadcasting Corporation DR Donald Trump Jr. reportedly arrived in Greenland on Tuesday But it said it would not hold meetings with government members.
The Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs told NBC News: “We are aware of Donald Trump Jr.’s planned visit to Greenland. As this is not an official visit from the United States, the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs has no further comment on the visit.”
