Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov appeared to sigh relief, saying the “development of the situation is, thank God, at the level of statements so far.”
On Thursday, the Kremlin said that Russia had strategic national interests in the Arctic when asked to comment on US President-elect Donald Trump’s remarks about acquiring Greenland, absorbing Canada, and taking control of the Panama Canal.
Since taking office on January 20, he has refused to rule out any military or economic action if pursuing the takeover of Panama’s Canal and Greenland, among other expansionary ventures he’s preached since the November 5 general elections.
Moreover, Trump even talks about changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. The Kremlin responded to Trump’s comments about Greenland and Canada by saying that Russia, which has the largest Arctic coastline, was closely watching the situation’s “dramatic development.”
“The Arctic is a zone of our national interests, our strategic interests,” Peskov said. “We are interested in preserving the atmosphere of peace and stability in the Arctic zone.”
We are watching the quite dramatic development of the situation very closely, but thank God, so far, at the level of statements,” Peskov said.
US attempts to gain Greenland, which dates back to the 19th Century, are a matter for the United States and Denmark. However, Peskov noted that Europe reacted cautiously to Trump’s statements.
“Europe reacts very timidly, and it is scary to react to Trump’s words. Therefore, Europe reacts cautiously, modestly, quietly, almost in a whisper,” Peskov said. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed surprise at Trump’s comments about Greenland and Canada, saying European partners agreed that the inviolability of borders was a fundamental principle of international law.
