As Donald Trump presses Denmark to sell Greenland, Vladimir Putin has slapped a $1 billion price tag on the prize while declaring it a non-issue for Russia. The Kremlin’s hands-off approach contrasts sharply with the transatlantic friction over the self-ruled territory’s destiny.
Putin’s comments came amid a National Security Council huddle, where he ripped into Denmark’s ‘strict colonial’ handling since the 18th century. Home rule arrived in 1979, but foreign policy and security linger under Copenhagen’s wing—a setup Trump wants to upend for U.S. strategic gains.
‘Not our concern whatsoever—they’ll figure it out,’ Putin stated, alluding to America’s acquisitive past with Alaska and the U.S. Virgin Islands. His valuation underscores feasibility, distancing Russia from entanglement.
Foreign Minister Lavrov shut down speculation of Russian moves. On the flip side, Denmark’s Lars Løkke Rasmussen vowed in Davos to protect sovereignty. U.S. military assets, including WWII-era bases, already dot the landscape.
The saga spotlights Arctic awakening: thawing ice unveils minerals and passages coveted by powers. Trump’s salesmanship faces Danish defiance, while Putin’s pricing and detachment sidestep rivalry narratives involving Moscow or Beijing. This episode reveals fault lines in global order, balancing economic lure against national pride.