Why Trump’s pursuit of Greenland could be cheered on by Russia

High-profile political pundits close to Russian President Vladimir Putin have already voiced their support for Trump’s re-stated ambition to buy Greenland and expand U.S. territory to include the resource-rich island — commenting that such a move would validate every other country’s expansionist territorial ambitions, and most importantly, Russia’s.

Trump said on his social media platform Truth Social in December that he saw “ownership” of Greenland as essential for the U.S.′ economic and national security, restating a bid for the island that he made in his first term as president.

On Tuesday, Trump doubled-down on those comments and said he would not rule out using force to take Greenland, as well as the Panama Canal. Trump has also mooted the idea of turning Canada into the 51st state and to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.

‘Might is right’

Close followers of Russian politics say Trump’s position could spur on Russia’s leadership as it validates potential further attempts to expand Russia’s sphere of influence and power. 

“The West has argued that Putin’s invasion of Ukraine and territorial land grab is illegal, and defies international law. The same message has been sent to Israel over expanding settlements. And the message to China has been not to view Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as a green light for a similar invasion of Taiwan — they should assume serious international consequences,” Timothy Ash, emerging markets strategist at BlueBay Asset Management, said in emailed comments Wednesday. “Trump’s pantomime performance though yesterday sent a clear message that great powers do have ‘spheres of influence’, or they do according to Trump — which aligns with Putin’s view of the world,” Ash added, warning that Trump had greatly undermined NATO with his comments.

‘Make Greenland Great Again’

The Kremlin has not made any official comment on Trump’s comments regarding Greenland, which is located between the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean, but is likely to be watching developments closely given its own interests in the Arctic, a region where it has expanded its own political, economic and military influence in recent decades.

Greenland is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark but has links to the U.S., with American military installations constructed on the island following World War II. During the war, Denmark was occupied by Nazi Germany, prompting Copenhagen and the U.S. to sign an agreement in 1941 to give the U.S. control of Greenland’s defense.

That sentiment was reiterated by Greenland following Trump’s comments in December, with Prime Minister Mute Egede saying: “We are not for sale and we will not be for sale” and that “Greenland belongs to the people of Greenland.”

Trump’s pronouncements appeared to have rattled Denmark, however, and it has sought to stamp its authority on, and ownership of, the island in recent weeks.

Hours after Trump’s comments in December, Copenhagen announced it would increase defense spending on Greenland to give it a “stronger presence in the Arctic.” It was then announced Monday that Denmark’s King Frederik X had updated his historic coat of arms to give Greenland and the Faroe Islands greater symbolic prominence and to assert them as a central part of the Danish realm.

Apparently undeterred by Greenland and Denmark’s cold shoulder, Trump announced Monday that his son Donald Trump Jr. was making an impromptu visit to the island.Denmark has been vociferous in its opposition to Trump’s ambition to acquire the island, with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen describing the idea as “absurd” when Trump first mooted it in 2019.

Danish broadcaster DR reported that Donald Trump Jr. arrived in Greenland on Tuesday but said no meetings were set to take place with members of the government.

The Danish foreign ministry told NBC News: “We have noted the planned visit of Donald Trump Jr. to Greenland. As it is not an official American visit, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark has no further comment to the visit.”