Russian President Vladimir Putin commented on US President Donald Trump's plan to buy Greenland, stating that "Denmark has always considered Greenland a colony. They treated that territory quite harshly, if not cruelly." Putin made these remarks during a meeting with the National Security Council at the Kremlin on 21/1, though he did not provide evidence for his statement.

Putin emphasized that Russia has no interest in the dispute over Greenland's ownership. This is despite President Donald Trump repeatedly asserting that the US needs the island for national security due to "threats from Russia and China." Putin added, "That certainly does not concern us. I think they will resolve it among themselves."

The Russian president referenced historical US land acquisitions, including the purchase of Alaska from Russia in 1867 and the Caribbean territory, now known as the US Virgin Islands, from Denmark in 1916. Based on these precedents, he estimated that a potential deal to acquire Greenland could cost up to one billion USD. "The US is fully capable of paying such an amount," the Kremlin head stressed.

While the US and Denmark have not commented on Putin's statement, Reuters reported on 8/1, citing four informed sources, that US officials, including White House advisors, were discussing a lump-sum cash payment. This strategy aimed to influence Greenland's residents to secede from Denmark and potentially merge with the US. Two sources indicated that the discussed one-time payment ranged from 10,000 to 100,000 USD for each Greenlander. If the US were to pay 100,000 USD for all 57,000 residents, the total cost would amount to 5,7 billion USD.

Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin on 21/1. Photo: AFP

Greenland is the world's largest island, situated near North America, between the Atlantic Ocean and the Arctic Ocean. With a population of 57,000 and an area of approximately 2,16 million km2, the island belongs to Denmark. Its location on the shortest route from North America to Europe makes it a strategically important site for Washington. Greenland also possesses abundant mineral resources, most of which remain untapped.

Russia has increased its military presence in the Arctic in recent years. However, speaking to the press on 20/1, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov denied that Moscow had plans to interfere in Greenland's internal affairs.

Historically, Greenland was a colony of the Kingdom of Norway from 1261. It was transferred to Denmark in 1814 when the kingdom separated into two nations: Denmark and Norway. In 1953, Denmark adopted a new constitution, establishing Greenland as an autonomous territory, though Copenhagen retained partial control over its foreign policy.

On 21/1, Trump announced that he and NATO leaders had reached a framework agreement on Greenland that he found satisfactory, subsequently withdrawing the threat of tariffs on Europe. US media reported that this framework agreement has six main points. These include US control over certain small areas and participation in mineral extraction in Greenland, with the goal of preventing Russian influence. The agreement also encompasses the "Vom Vang" defense system and paves the way for US-backed infrastructure investment on the autonomous island.

Danish officials have consistently affirmed that Greenland is not for sale. They also reiterated that the US is fully able to increase its military presence under the bilateral treaty signed in 1941.

Huyen Le (According to RT, Reuters)