Russia’s public line has been a carefully split message. Moscow says that Greenland’s sovereignty is “not our business”, while at the same time, any U.S. militarization of Greenland will be treated as direct security problem that Russia says it would counter in every possible way.
In late January 2026, President Putin publicly signaled Russia would not object to Trump’s push to control Greenland and framed it as not affecting Russia directly. Apparently, Russia took this exact stance due to many reasons, but mainly to:
- Avoid defending Denmark/NATO and facilitating the ground for a wider US-European conflict in Greenland and maybe further.
- Normalize territorial “revisionism”, in other words, “big powers can redraw maps and protect their interests the way they see suitable”.
- Keep the focus on Western “infighting” rather than Russia’s moves elsewhere. Besides, deeper conflict among NATO members will distract them further from the Ukrainian battlefield and gradually decrease their support to Kiev.
Furthermore, Russia has added that “Greenland isn’t a natural part of Denmark”. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov argued Greenland is not a “natural part” of Denmark, referencing colonial acquisition history. This is a smooth rhetorical tactic: delegitimize Copenhagen’s claim without explicitly endorsing “annexation”. It’s a way to say “your moral arguments are messy too”.
Red Lines
Meanwhile, the Russian stance has not only been as the above. Moscow has drawn red lines for Washington’s policy towards Greenland. Russia has been much more direct about the military angle. Moscow announced it is ready to respond if Washington moves to place strategic weapons on Greenland.
In specific, Russia worries about installing American missile defense systems over there, and also about installing anti-submarine warfare systems. Besides, the US might later on move nukes to Greenland, a move that could trigger a direct conflict/escalation between the US and Russia.
Militarily speaking, Greenland sits on the “short” air/missile routes between North America and Russia and controls Arctic/North Atlantic surveillance. The U.S. already has Pituffik Space Base (formerly Thule Air Base) there, tied to missile warning, space surveillance, and related missions. But if “U.S. moves on Greenland with bigger and more fatal military capabilities, Moscow reads it as strategic pressure on its nuclear deterrent, not just regional politics, which will push the latest to take equal measures.
Russian Doubts
Some experts and observers say the Russians does not believe that the US is sincerely willing to take Greenland by force. Moscow believes that Trump is using this topic to further pressure the Europeans and make them follow US interests in other regions, such as the Middle East and Ukraine. The Russians also believe this is a tactic used by the US to remind the Europeans about Washington’s variety of options when they do not follow its interests and when they try to approach China and Russia further.
Furthermore, the US tactics towards Greenland is seen as a tool to push Copenhagen to allow wider US presence on its soil. First they raise the bar and threaten with military action so Denmark could become very flexible in any future negotiations or demands.
How would Russia further benefit from the situation?
Since 2020, Russia has been actively accusing the West of further militarizing the North Pole, which totally justifies Moscow’s massive build-up in the region. A further US presence in Greenland, or even the US rhetoric alone, will push Russia to openly install all types of arms in the North Pole, as its actions will be totally justified and globally legitimate.
Meanwhile, even if the US expands its military presence in Greenland, this would damage US-EU relations on the long run as the Europeans have already seen how far the US would go to impose its will and interests on behalf of Europe’s. This also explains the latest European rapprochement with China. The Europeans do not see the US as a fully-reliable partner as they used to see it 10 or 20 years ago.
Comments