Jan 13 (Reuters) – Russian Security Council Vice-President Dmitry Medvedev said Greenlanders may vote to join Russia if U.S. President Donald Trump does not act quickly to secure Arctic islands, the Interfax news agency reported on Monday.
The Interfax news agency quoted former Russian President Medvedev as saying: “Trump needs to hurry up. According to unconfirmed information, a referendum may be held suddenly in a few days, and the entire 55,000 Greenlanders can vote to join Russia.”
“And that was it. There were no new little stars on the (U.S.) flag.”
Trump has renewed his push for U.S. control of the self-governing Danish territory of Greenland, saying Washington needs it to deter Russia. The US president said Greenland’s location and resources were vital to national security, prompting firm opposition from Denmark and Greenland.
While Russia does not lay claim to Greenland, it has long monitored the island for its strategic role in Arctic security, given its location on the North Atlantic shipping lanes and the presence of major U.S. military and space surveillance facilities.
The Kremlin has yet to comment on Trump’s new move but calls the Arctic an area of Russian national and strategic interest and says it is closely following the “rather dramatic” debate over Greenland last year.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 significantly undermines Arctic cooperation. Competition in the region has become more intense as climate change opens up new routes and resource prospects.
(Reporting by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
