Russia on Thursday vehemently opposed the Western assertions that Moscow and Beijing are threatening Greenland terming it unacceptable and noting the hypocrisy of Western powers which preach moral superiority yet pursue their own selfish strategic interests. The Russian Foreign Ministry alleged that the West was overstating the existence of threats in a bid to justify further expansion of NATO presence to the Arctic which is a resource rich region that is becoming more accessible with the change in climate. Dismissing what she described as a fake crisis in Greenland, the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that at first they had an idea that there were aggressors, and then that they were ready to defend someone against these so-called aggressors.
Zakharova pointed out that both Russia and China have not announced their intentions on Greenland and no policy has been put forward to support the allegations of aggressive intentions. She added, in point, Why not ask Trump? in reply to recurrent inquiries concerning the supposed plans of Russia on the ground. The tensions are based on recurring words of the former U.S. President Donald Trump who claims that the Americans should seize possession of Greenland, threatening that failure by Washington to do so would render Russia and China have influence on the territory.
Trump contended that America had to take strategic control to ensure security, and that the location of Greenland in the Arctic was vital to defense and resources. Western European officials have mirrored these words in other ways, stating without providing evidence that Moscow and Beijing are aggressive in their ambitions in the Arctic, and this is the reason they should increase NATO presence. Zakharova wrote off such a course as not being in line with the allegations of a rules-based international order. According to her, the situation surrounding Greenland proves that the West is selective in the implementation of principles, which implies the mismatch between the rhetoric and reality. She said that there were no facts to support aggressive plans of Russia or China, that there could not be any.
Russia’s stake on Greenland
Russia again also expressed its view that both Moscow and Beijing propose stability, peace, and long-term growth in the Arctic. China also cautioned the United States not to use other nations as an umbrella to further its self-interests in the Arctic, but it should note that its actions are meant to facilitate dialogue and cooperation in the area. Zakharova ended her comments with a warning and a joke, telling her, Take a bite of what you have made, but do not choke, a hint at Western policies that, she opined, were ill conceived and self-defeating. This reaction by the Russians is part of a larger story in Moscow that the Western powers are exploiting geopolitical issues in the Arctic to further their military buildup and political meddling instead of having real cooperation in the region.