Russia Warns of Military Response if Greenland Sees Increased Western Forces

Russia has threatened to take military “countermeasures” if Western countries expand their military presence in Greenland, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Wednesday.

In recent weeks, several European nations have deployed small contingents of troops to Greenland, following repeated remarks by former US President Donald Trump about annexing the Arctic territory.

“Of course, in the event of the militarisation of Greenland and the creation of military capabilities aimed at Russia, we will take adequate counter-measures, including military-technical ones,” Lavrov told Russian lawmakers.

Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory with a population of around 57,000, has long maintained control over its internal affairs. Last month, Trump abandoned threats to seize the island, citing a “framework” agreement with NATO chief Mark Rutte aimed at increasing US influence in the region.

Lavrov criticized Denmark for allegedly treating Greenlanders as “second-class citizens” and stated that Greenland’s future should be decided by the US, Denmark, and Greenland itself.

Greenlandic authorities have consistently emphasized that sovereignty and territorial integrity are non-negotiable in any discussions with Washington.