Russia takes note of Trump

Russia says geopolitical tension in the Arctic is “the biggest concern,” as European NATO members prepare to hold war games in the region and Moscow seeks to highlight disagreement between the Trump administration and its closest allies over Green Earth.

“NATO has embarked on a course of accelerated militarization of the North, increasing its military presence there under the fictitious pretext of a growing threat from Moscow and Beijing,” the Russian embassy in Belgium said in a statement late Wednesday.

The statement goes on to say that Russia advocates peace, cooperation and dialogue in the region, but that “NATO members do not show any willingness to resolve problems constructively.”

“The militaristic spirit within the alliance is strengthening and, given the disagreements that have arisen within the bloc on the Greenland issue, its ability to reach agreements is becoming increasingly unpredictable, including on Arctic issues,” the Russian embassy said. “We consider the alliance’s escalating line of confrontation in the Arctic to be counterproductive and extremely dangerous.”

The statement came as senior Trump administration officials met in Washington with Danish and Greenlandic officials to discuss Trump’s repeated promises to make the vast, largely frozen island part of the United States. The White House says the United States needs control of the resource-rich island, long a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark, for security reasons, saying otherwise Russia and China will take it over.

• Maps show why Greenland is so important as the Arctic warms

The European allies of the United States, and the Greenland government itselfhave vehemently rejected the idea of ​​the United States taking control of the island, by any means, and have argued that American ownership is unnecessary for security reasons, since Greenland is already NATO territory.

After the meeting, Denmark’s foreign minister said his country and the United States There were still “fundamental” differences about the future of Greenland, but we will continue talking.

Meanwhile, EU leaders have also sought to acknowledge Trump’s concerns about growing security threats in Greenland.

“Geopolitical tensions have spread to the Arctic,” Denmark’s Defense Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday. “Therefore, the Government of Greenland and the Danish Ministry of Defense have decided to continue the increasing exercise activity of the Danish Armed Forces in Greenland, in close cooperation with NATO allies.”

“The goal is to train the ability to operate in the unique conditions of the Arctic and strengthen the alliance’s footprint in the Arctic, benefiting both European and transatlantic security,” the ministry said.

“Don’t listen to Russian propaganda,” Lars-Christian Brask, vice chairman of the Danish Parliament’s Foreign Policy Committee, told News themezone on Thursday, calling the meeting in Washington between US, European and Greenlandic officials positive despite the lack of a resolution to the issue.

“I think it’s positive that the clear disagreement that exists between Denmark, Greenland and the United States is being brought to a platform, to a high-level working group,” Brask said, calling it “a good way to continue to figure out what we can do to resolve this situation.”

“It’s about talking. It’s about communicating. It’s about trying to solve a problem that couldn’t be solved in a one-hour meeting yesterday,” Brask said.

Trump has disparaged Denmark’s efforts to increase security in Greenland, saying in a social media post Wednesday: “Two dog sleds won’t be enough! Only the United States can!!!”

Denmark says it has invested almost $14 billion in Arctic security and, ahead of military exercises in the region, its European partners also signaled their investment in the island’s defense.

A small number of European troops arrived in Greenland on Thursday to take part in the upcoming exercise. Germany said it would send 13 troops to Nuuk, the capital of Greenland. The Netherlands said it would work with NATO to conduct joint reconnaissance before the military exercise and would send an officer from its navy, and Finland said it would send two liaison officers.

A small group of French troops also arrived in Greenland, French President Emmanuel Macron said.

Addressing military personnel in Istres, France, on Thursday, Macron said that “history forgives neither unpreparedness nor weakness.”

“Europeans have a particular responsibility, since this territory [Greenland] “It belongs to the European Union… An initial military team is already on the ground and will be reinforced in the coming days with land, air and sea resources,” Macron said.

Macron said France must play the role of “being available in the face of the threat, knowing how to adapt and being on the side of a sovereign country to protect its territory.”