TRUMP and Putin should share Greenland – but mad Vlad should also seize his own Arctic island from Nato, a Russian general has proposed.
The Republican President-elect sent shockwaves through the EU after he floated plans to seize Greenland to protect global “national security and freedom” – and Putin wants a piece of the pie.
East2WestSpitsbergen city, Norway[/caption]
East2WestReservist Russian army general, hardline MP, and pro-Putin TV propagandist Andrey Gurulev has demanded the Kremlin makes a move on Greenland[/caption]
According to the Russian general Andrey Gurulev, frenemies Putin and Trump should just share the world’s largest island instead of conflicting over it.
But Gurulev also thinks the Kremlin should also seize Spitsbergen – a Norwegian island in the Arctic where military operations are banned to use it as a chilling defence stronghold.
The hardline pro-Putin MP and TV propagandist made the demands after Putin’s mouthpiece Dmitry Peskov suggested Trump to back off the icy island.
Gurulev said: “If, for example, Trump declares his claims in Greenland, why don’t we look at Greenland?”
Greenland sits right in the middle of the Arctic Ocean and is among the key trade routes in the region.
The Arctic has increasingly become the object of a struggle between international superpowers as Russia and China have both ramped up efforts to take control of the area.
Nervous yet insistent Gurulev added: “We need Greenland. This is not a joke.
“We need it very much – why can’t we bring a few boxes stuffed [with money] and close this issue once and for all?
“At worst, Trump can agree to cut Greenland into a couple of parts.
“It is clear that Denmark will never be there again.”
GettyDonald Trump has ruffled diplomatic feather after he failed to rule out military intervention to take over Greenland[/caption]
GettyVladimir Putin has told the incoming US leader to back off on the ice island[/caption]
GettyGreenland could be a strategically crucial nation in the Arctic Circle[/caption]
The Lieutenant General added that Kremlin sights should also be set on Spitsbergen which is sovereign Norwegian territory.
Russia exercises rights of the land under the Svalbard Treaty of 1920 – but only to conduct various economic endeavours like mining.
There is also a Russian consulate on Spitsbergen in a town called Barentsburg – the world’s northernmost diplomatic mission.
The island is demilitarised under international agreement.
But Gurulev believes that Russia should overturn this.
He said on a TV propaganda show: “Today, Spitsbergen, which is in the underbelly of our Northern Fleet, is extremely important to us.
“I think that we should move from joint development to Russian options, and there will be very good bases there, influencing the entire Arctic.”
He chillingly suggested that the main thing for Russia is to “build a normal defence [system] there in such a way that “no one would even thinking of poking their noses” into the Arctic territories.
Gurulev said on a Telegram channel: “[It’s] important for us to strengthen our positions on Spitsbergen, which is in close proximity to the Northern Fleet.
“Instead of joint development, we need to move to Russian control, creating bases that affect the entire Arctic region.
“Military forces in the Arctic need to be built up, without being distracted only by the situation in Ukraine.”
ICY TENSIONS
Russia has not been the only country to send a warning Trump’s way after several major EU nations spoke out.
Both Germany and France made surprise warnings to the president-elect against using force to possibly take the ice island.
How Trump could storm Greenland
By Patrick Harrington, Foreign News Reporter
DONALD Trump could storm Greenland and claim it within 24 hours in the “world’s shortest war”, analysts have revealed.
The incoming US leader has refused to rule out taking Greenland by force after doubling down on his intention to buy the territory from Denmark.
Far from being a useless block of ice, Greenland is a vital strategic asset bursting with natural resources and sits bang in the middle of the main Arctic trade routes.
It’s become the epicentre of a struggle between superpowers – with Russia and China both ramping up efforts to take control of the region.
And Danish PM Mette Frederiksen has demanded crunch talks with Trump after his latest remarks, insisting: “Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders.”
But if Trump did invade, America’s military might means a war would be over in just 24 hours, politics professor Anthony Glees told The Sun.
Speaking to The Sun, Glees said Trump will be surrounded by “people who think he is great” – and it means he will be able to go ahead with any wild ideas he has.
Glees said: “In other words, we have to take him seriously.
“And if Trump wanted to take Greenland by force, he could do it in 24 hours.”
As an autonomous territory of Denmark, Greenland has its own ruling body – but people from the island have Danish citizenship.
But Trump said US ownership of Greenland is an “absolute necessity” to protect global “national security and freedom”.
Greenland – the largest non-continent island in the world – has a population of just 57,000, and virtually no defensive capabilities of its own.
As owner of the island, Denmark is responsible for Greenland’s protection and their army would be the army to mobilise against the Americans.
Its defence budget is around £6billion – 100 times smaller than the eye watering almost £750billion America splashes on defence.
As such, the Royal Danish Army would be dwarfed by the United States Armed Forces.
French foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot suggested moves on the territory would be an attack on the European Union.
“There is no question of the EU letting other nations in the world, whoever they may be, attack its sovereign borders, whoever they are,” he said.
“We are a strong continent.”
German chancellor Olaf Scholz said Trump’s remarks triggered “incomprehension” among European leaders.
LAND GRAB
Although the president-elect has only floated the idea around, a visit to the ice island by his son made some eyes open.
Don Jr landed in Greenland’s capital Nuuk on Tuesday and was caught strolling across the airport’s snowy tarmac.
According to Greenland’s foreign affairs department, his trip was an unofficial visit and only latest just a few hours, with no formal meetings.
Despite this, chatter that Trump’s eldest son could be window shopping for Greenland did not stop.
Trump Snr could not resist hyping up his boy’s visit by uploading a glowing Truth Social post.
“I am hearing that the people of Greenland are ‘MAGA’,” the incoming commander-in-chief wrote.
“My son, Don Jr, and various representatives, will be traveling there to visit some of the most magnificent areas and sights.
“Greenland is an incredible place, and the people will benefit tremendously if, and when, it becomes part of our Nation.
“We will protect it, and cherish it, from a very vicious outside World. MAKE GREENLAND GREAT AGAIN!”
Trump also oddly put out potential plans for the US to retake control of the Panama Canal, change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, and make Canada the 51st state.
He called the border between Canada and the US an “artificially drawn line.”
EPAPeople wear MAGA hats during Donald Trump Jr’s visit to Nuuk, Greenland[/caption]
EPAResidents wearing MAGA hats stand near the Hotel Hans Egede during Donald Trump Jr.’s visit[/caption]
EPALocals have appeared to be split over their thoughts on Trump’s apparent plans[/caption]
ReutersThe US previously occupied Greenland in World War Two[/caption]
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