Russia says carefully watching Trump’s Greenland claims – INA NEWS

Russia is carefully monitoring Donald Trump’s territorial claims to Greenland, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has stated, after the US president-elect refused to rule out the opportunity of utilizing navy drive to accumulate the Danish territory.

“We’re following this slightly dramatic improvement carefully. Fortunately, for now, it stays on the stage of statements,” Peskov advised a information convention in Moscow on Thursday.

Trump on Tuesday repeated his need for the US to take management of Greenland. Requested by a journalist if he would rule out utilizing financial or navy drive with a purpose to purchase Greenland, Trump replied, “I’m not going to decide to that.”

“We want Greenland for nationwide safety functions,” Trump later stated.

The mineral-rich island – an autonomous Danish territory – is positioned within the Arctic, the place Russia, China and the US have jockeyed for supremacy lately.

Concerning the Arctic area, Peskov reiterated its strategic significance to Russia.

“The Arctic zone is an space of our nationwide and strategic pursuits. We’re current within the Arctic and can proceed to be. Sustaining peace and stability within the area is paramount, and we’re open to cooperation with all nations to attain this purpose,” he famous.

Peskov additionally criticised European leaders’ response to Trump’s feedback. “Europe reacts very timidly – it’s clear they’re hesitant to problem Trump’s phrases,” he stated.

EU calls to respect sovereignty

In a while Thursday, EU international coverage chief Kaja Kallas stated that Greenland’s sovereignty have to be revered.

“Greenland is a part of Denmark [an EU member-state],” Kallas advised journalists. “We now have to respect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Greenland.”

Kallas stated she had spoken to Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen after Trump’s feedback.

“She assured that the Danish and American relations have been superb,” Kallas stated.

Frederiksen’s workplace advised the AFP information company that she would meet Danish celebration leaders in a while Thursday.

“Assembly the celebration leaders permits us to share the measures the federal government has taken over the previous few days,” Danish Overseas Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen advised reporters.

He Rasmussen famous that whereas he didn’t imagine Denmark was in a “international coverage disaster”, that didn’t imply “there couldn’t nicely be one … if phrases flip to actions”.

In an announcement on Wednesday, Greenland’s authorities reiterated its proper to self-determination, including that it “appears to be like ahead to establishing contact” with the Trump administration.

It stated it will proceed to cooperate with america “as one among our closest companions”.

“Greenland has had greater than 80 years of defence cooperation with the US for the good thing about the safety of Greenland, the US and the remainder of the western world,” it stated.