On February 2, in an interview with TASS news agency, Russian Deputy Chairman of the Security Council Dmitry Medvedev gave assessments of the geopolitical chessboard in the Arctic. He said that US President Donald Trump's public move to take over Greenland is not simply a territorial issue but a "serious challenge" to the unity of the Atlantic bloc.
Regarding Moscow's position, Mr. Medvedev affirmed that Russia is completely outside this dispute.
Last week, the White House sent a tough signal when announcing that preliminary framework agreements on Greenland had been shaped after a high-level meeting with NATO leaders. The US's push for this issue with an autonomous territory in Denmark shows its determination to turn ideas into reality, despite diplomatic sensitivity.
Military analysts point out that the main driving force for the US to be determined to control this icy island lies in its unparalleled strategic value. President Trump has repeatedly emphasized the need to establish the "Golden Dome" missile defense system to protect the United States. With its prime geographical location between North America and the old continent, Greenland is considered an irreplaceable outpost for placing radar systems and early detection launchers.
From Mr. Medvedev's perspective, this US security ambition is putting European allies in an unprecedented dilemma. The fact that a superpower is putting pressure on its allies to gain territorial control has created a dangerous precedent in international relations. Europe is forced to choose between meeting the security needs of its patron, the US, or protecting national sovereignty principles.
This event is revealing core interest conflicts. While Washington places absolute priority on national security and superpower status, European countries are concerned about being drawn into unilateral calculations.
According to Russia's assessment, these internal disagreements are becoming the harshest test for the sustainability of the Western alliance in a volatile world.
