Russia notes Trump’s row with NATO allies over Greenland as European troops head to Arctic for war games

Russia says regional tensions in the Arctic are “a matter of great concern,” as European NATO members prepare for war games in the region and Moscow seeks to highlight the rift between the Trump administration and its closest allies. Greenland.

“NATO has started a campaign to accelerate the war in the North, increasing its military presence there under the false pretext of threats from Moscow and Beijing,” the Russian embassy in Belgium said in a statement on Wednesday.

The statement went on to say that Russia stands for peace, cooperation and dialogue in the region, but that, “NATO members do not show a disposition to solve problems constructively.”

“The militancy within the alliance is growing stronger, and given the disagreements that have arisen within the bloc over the Greenland issue, its ability to reach agreements is becoming increasingly unclear, including on Arctic issues,” said the Russian ambassador. “We consider the alliance line of conflict in the Arctic to be wrong and very dangerous.”

The statement came when senior Trump administration officials met in Washington with Danish and Greenlandic officials to discuss Mr. The White House says the US needs to control the resource-rich island, which has territory under Denmark, for security reasons, saying Russia and China would take it otherwise.

America’s European allies, and the government of Greenlandthey strongly reject the idea that the US controls the island, in any way, and say that US ownership is unnecessary for security reasons, as Greenland is already a NATO territory.

After the meeting, Denmark’s foreign minister said that his country and the US they still have “fundamental” differences. about the future of Greenland, but he will continue to speak.

EU leaders, on the other hand, want to acknowledge the concerns of Mr.

“Political tensions have spread to the Arctic,” Denmark’s Defense Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday. “Therefore the Government of Greenland, and the Danish Ministry of Defense have decided to continue with the increased operation of the Danish Armed Forces in Greenland, in cooperation with NATO allies.”

“The aim is to train the ability to work under the unique conditions of the Arctic and to strengthen the measures of the alliance in the Arctic, which benefits both European and transatlantic security,” said the Ministry.

“Don’t listen to Russian propaganda,” Lars-Christian Brask, vice chairman of the Danish Parliament’s Foreign Policy Committee, told CBS News on Thursday, calling for a meeting in Washington between US, European and Greenlandic officials despite no resolution on the issue.

“I think it’s good that the clear disagreements that exist between Denmark, Greenland and the US will be taken into a platform, a high-level working group,” said Brask, calling it “a good way to continue to find out what we can do to resolve this situation.”

“It’s all about talking. It’s about communication. It’s trying to solve a problem that could have been solved in an hour’s meeting yesterday,” Brask said.

Aaja Chemnitz, a Greenlandic member of the Danish Parliament, told CBS News on Thursday, “Many of us were worried that it would be the same Zelenskyy when he was in the White Houseso, considering the whole situation, I think it was a success.”

“What I hear at home [in Greenland]what I think is very important to emphasize, is that children are worried. They talk about their concerns at school. We have elders who do not sleep because they are worried. I think all this happened was annoying us. I think some of it was scary. Therefore, it is important to release the pressure. And it was released a little in the meeting yesterday, but this is a long race and not a short race, and we need to make sure that Greenland and Denmark stay close to each other in this situation, “said Chemnitz.

Mr. Trump has undermined Denmark’s efforts to increase security in Greenland, saying on Wednesday in a post on social media: “Two dogs won’t do it! Only the USA can!!!”

Denmark says it has invested nearly $14 billion in security in the Arctic, and before the military training in the region, its European partners have also shown that they have invested in the defense of the island.

A small number of European troops were arriving in Greenland on Thursday to take part in the upcoming operation. Germany said it is sending 13 soldiers to Greenland’s capital Nuuk. The Netherlands said it would work with NATO to conduct a joint investigation before the military exercise, and send one naval officer, and Finland said it would send two liaison officers.

A small group of French soldiers has also arrived in Greenland, said French President Emmanuel Macron.

Speaking to soldiers in Istres, France, on Thursday, Macron said, “history does not forgive lack of preparation or weakness.”

“Europeans have a certain responsibility, like this place [Greenland] it belongs to the European Union … The first military group is already on the ground and will be reinforced in the coming days with land, air, and sea assets,” Macron said.

Macron said France must play the role of “being present when faced with a threat, being able to adapt, and being on the side of an independent country to defend its territory.”