Russia gloats over Greenland tensions

[ad_1] Steve Rosenberg Russia Editor

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/e49e/live/7a8877e0-f553-11f0-a712-a38af32eabc0.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/e49e/live/7a8877e0-f553-11f0-a712-a38af32eabc0.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/e49e/live/7a8877e0-f553-11f0-a712-a38af32eabc0.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/e49e/live/7a8877e0-f553-11f0-a712-a38af32eabc0.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/e49e/live/7a8877e0-f553-11f0-a712-a38af32eabc0.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/e49e/live/7a8877e0-f553-11f0-a712-a38af32eabc0.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/e49e/live/7a8877e0-f553-11f0-a712-a38af32eabc0.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/e49e/live/7a8877e0-f553-11f0-a712-a38af32eabc0.jpg.webp" loading="eager" alt="Reuters U.S. President Donald Trump shakes hand with Russian President Vladimir Putin, as they meet to negotiate for an end to the war in Ukraine, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, U.S - the two men are shaking hands with Putin using his left hand to also make a pointed gesture " class="sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA"/> Reuters Take heed to Donald Trump and you'll suppose Moscow and Beijing had been mendacity in wait off the coast of Greenland, able to pounce to spice up their energy within the Arctic.

"There are Russian destroyers, there are Chinese language destroyers and, greater, there are Russian submarines everywhere," President Trump stated just lately.

That's the reason, in line with America's president, US management of Greenland is crucial.

So how do you suppose Moscow has reacted to its alleged plot being uncovered and probably thwarted by a US takeover of Greenland?

The Russians cannot be happy. Proper?

Flawed.

In an astonishing article, the Russian authorities paper is filled with reward for Trump and significant of European leaders who oppose a US annexation of Greenland.

"Standing in the way in which of the US president's historic breakthrough is the stubbornness of Copenhagen and the mock solidarity of intransigent European international locations, together with so-called mates of America, Britain and France," writes Rossiyskaya Gazeta.

"Europe doesn't want the American greatness that Trump is selling. Brussels is relying on 'drowning' the US president within the midterm congressional elections, on stopping him from concluding the best deal of his life."

"Best deal"? The reporter explains what he means. I've to maintain reminding myself I'm studying the Russian authorities newspaper, not a pro-Trump publication in America.

"If Trump annexes Greenland by July 4 2026, when America celebrates the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, he'll go down in historical past as a determine who asserted the greatness of the USA," writes Rossiyskaya Gazeta.

"With Greenland, the US turns into the second largest nation on the planet after Russia, surpassing Canada in space. For Individuals, that is on par with such planetary occasions because the abolition of slavery by Abraham Lincoln in 1862 or the territorial conquests of the Napoleonic Wars.

"If, due to Trump, Greenland turns into a part of America…for positive the American folks is not going to neglect such an achievement."

And the Russian reporter has this message for America's president: do not U-turn.

"It's harmful for the American president to again down over Greenland. This might weaken the place of the Republican Occasion within the midterm elections and sure end in a Democrat majority on Capitol Hill with the following penalties for Trump. Whereas a fast annexation of Greenland earlier than the elections can change this political development."

In different phrases, it is in Trump's curiosity to push forward along with his plans to take over Greenland: in line with the Russian authorities paper.

Let that sink in.

However why the reward from Moscow? Why the obvious encouragement?

It is as a result of Russia has a lot to realize from the present state of affairs.

Trump's fixation with Greenland, his willpower to take over the island and impose tariffs on European international locations that oppose his plan have put an enormous pressure on the transatlantic alliance: each on America's relations with Europe, and inside Nato.

Something that weakens – or threatens to separate – the Western alliance is considered by Moscow as an enormous optimistic for Russia.

"Europe is at a complete loss and, to be sincere, it is a pleasure to observe this," gloated the Russian tabloid Moskovsky Komsomolets in one in all its articles about Greenland.

What's extra, American threats to annex Greenland are being utilized by pro-Kremlin commentators to attempt to justify Russia's battle on Ukraine.

Victory in Ukraine stays the Kremlin's precedence.

Moscow believes that sustaining a optimistic relationship with the Trump administration will assist obtain this.

Therefore Russia's criticism of Europe. However not of Donald Trump.

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