Trump’s Plan To Annex Greenland Has ‘Nothing To Do With Russia’, Says Putin

<p>Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday visited Murmansk, the largest city north of the Arctic circle, where he pledged to “strengthen Russia’s global leadership in the Arctic”, warning that the “geopolitical competition in the region was intensifying”. He said that Trump’s plans to annex Greenland were “serious” as he expressed worry that the West could use Arctic as a “springboard for future conflicts”.&nbsp;</p>
<p>”Geopolitical competition in the Arctic region is intensifying,” Putin said, citing Trump’s Greenland proposal as a key example.</p>
<p>While Putin did not make territorial claims or advocate expansionism, he notably refrained from objecting to US President Donald Trump’s reported desire to acquire Greenland, making no criticism about it.</p>
<p>”It is a deep mistake to think that this is some extravagant talk from the new American administration. It is nothing of the sort,” President Putin said in an address to Russia’s Arctic Forum in Murmansk, as reported by AFP.</p>
<p>”We are talking about serious plans on the American side with regard to Greenland. These plans have long-standing historical roots,” he said, adding “America’s plans in relation to Greenland are serious.”</p>
<p>Amid the row over Trump’s take over plans in Greenland that sparked and massive protests, US vice president JD Vance and his wife Usha Vance made an official visit to Greenland on Friday, where he criticised Denmark for failing to protect the Arctic island from alleged Russian and Chinese incursions, Reuters reported.</p>
<p><strong>ALSO READ: <a href=”https://news.abplive.com/news/world/ukraine-zelenskyy-putin-proposal-for-un-led-interim-government-delay-tactic-1761311″>Putin&rsquo;s Proposal For UN-Led Interim Government In Ukraine Is A ‘Delay Tactic’, Claims Zelenskyy</a></strong></p>
<h3>’It Has Nothing To Do With Us'</h3>
<p>Discussing the shift in US foreign policy, Putin said that Washington’s ambitions regarding Greenland have “deep historical roots” and that the US would continue to pursue its “geo-strategic, military, political, and economic interests in the Arctic region.”</p>
<p>”These plans have deep historical roots. And it’s clear that the US will continue to systematically pursue its geo-strategic, military-political and economic interests in the Аrctic.</p>
<p>However, the Russian leader distanced himself from the matter, stressing that it was a bilateral issue between the United States and Denmark. “As for Greenland, this is a matter for two specific countries. It has nothing to do with us,” Putin said.</p>
<p>Putin added that while Russia was not directly involved in the question of Greenland’s ownership, it was concerned that “NATO countries, in general, are increasingly designating the far north as a springboard for possible conflicts”.</p>
<p>These remarks by Putin have received international scrutiny, with analysts interpreting them as tacit approval of Washington’s ambitions. They came as Moscow and Washington are working to strengthen diplomatic ties.&nbsp;</p>
<p>It is being believed that Putin&rsquo;s stance on Greenland could have wider implications, particularly for Ukraine, where Russia has acquired significant territories with no sign of returning them.</p>
<p><strong>ALSO READ: <a href=”https://news.abplive.com/news/world/smart-man-great-friend-trump-praises-pm-modi-says-india-us-tariff-talks-to-work-out-very-well-1761307″>’Smart Man, Great Friend’: Trump Praises PM Modi, Says India-US Tariff Talks To Work Out ‘Very Well'</a></strong></p>
<h3>Russia Open To Investment In Arctic With US</h3>
<p>Russia also promoted the idea of economic cooperation with the US in the Arctic which is packed with natural resources. “We are open to considering different investment opportunities that we can do jointly with the US, in certain sectors approved by the Russian government,” President Putin’s envoy for foreign investment and economic cooperation Kirill Dmitriev said, as reported by BBC.</p>
<p>Dmitriev, who is also chief executive of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, said that talks with US officials are already underway.</p>
<p>”We are open for investment cooperation in the Arctic. That could be in logistics, or other areas beneficial to Russia and to the US,” Dmitriev added.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, Greenland has reiterated that it is “not for sale,” and Denmark has firmly rejected Washington’s reported proposal to acquire the autonomous territory.</p>
<p><strong>ALSO READ: <a href=”https://news.abplive.com/news/india/myanmar-earthquake-india-sends-15-ton-relief-materials-chinese-aid-team-assists-in-rescue-ops-thailand-earthquake-1761308″>India Sends Relief Materials To Quake-Hit Myanmar, Chinese Aid Team Assists In Rescue Ops</a></strong></p>