22 January 2025
18:42 Conflict in Syria
Syria not going to present threat to any country — foreign minister
18:34
Money behind Stargate signifies strategic importance of AI for the US
18:14
Death toll in hotel fire at Turkish ski resort climbs to 79 — prosecutors
18:07 Ukraine crisis
Ukraine’s frontline to collapse in 100 days, if Zelensky does not negotiate — lawmaker
18:06 Ukraine crisis
Zelensky fears US will seal Ukraine’s fate behind its back
18:04
Weekly inflation stands at 0.25% in Russia-statistics
17:52
Russian stock indices in the green on Wednesday — market data
17:29
West to start preparing for new conflict with Russia after clash in Ukraine over — Times
17:27 Middle East conflict
UN welcomes release of Galaxy Leader ship’s crew
17:22 Russia's defense industry
Kasatka signal relay drones developed in Russia
17:00 Ukraine crisis
Trump threatens to curb Russia’s exports if no deal on Ukraine reached
16:54
Trump says he has good relations with Putin, likes Russia
16:43 Ukraine crisis
Zelensky shocked by Trump’s decisions, tries to manipulate Europe — LDPR leader
16:22
Last year was rather successful for Russian economy — Putin
16:20
Man, child killed in stabbing attack in southern Germany — report
16:17
Russian authorities should respond to accelerated inflation — Putin
16:16
Russia should target moderate inflation — Putin
16:15
Putin to discuss coal, construction industries at meeting with Cabinet
16:10
Ensuring stability and resilience of public finances remains important for Russia — Putin
16:05 Iran's nuclear program
Iran not seeking to build nuclear arsenal — vice president
16:04
IMO secretary-general announces return to normal navigation in Red Sea
16:03
Russian banking sector feels itself confidently — Putin
16:02
CIS summit scheduled for October 10, Council of Heads of Government for June 5
16:01
Renaming Gulf of Mexico may require approval of international organization
15:55 Ukraine crisis
Serbian president skeptical about Trump’s plan to resolve Ukrainian conflict in 100 days
15:44 Middle East conflict
Gazan Health Ministry announces finding 53 bodies over past day
15:28
Russia's non-oil and gas revenues in 2024 increase by 26% — Putin
15:26
SPIMEX's net profit rises by 79% to $68.87 mln in 2024
15:26
Trump’s ask that EU countries increase defense spending unfeasible — expert
15:23
Scholz sees Donald Trump as challenge for Europe
15:21
Reigning champ Sinner slides into final four at 2025 Australian Open
15:16
Additional oil and gas revenues of Russian budget reach $13.15 bln in 2024 — Putin
15:12
Russia's budget deficit reaches 1.7% of GDP in 2024 — Putin
15:03
Syria’s defense minister says talks with Moscow over Russian bases still ongoing
15:01
Fico calls meeting of Slovak Security Council after intel points to impending coup d’etat
14:30
Trump’s aggressive trade policies leading to global economic crisis — journal
14:29
Payments in national currencies to lower BRICS dependence on dollar — Iranian leader
14:21
Russia may ease restrictions on imports of livestock products from EU — watchdog
14:19
Finland still uncertain on whether ruptures of Baltic cables were deliberate
14:02
Russia, India work together on the first manned space flight of Indian crew — ambassador
13:44
Latest Ukrainian drone attack targeted ZNPP host city, not nuclear plant itself
13:41
Rebels seize Bweremana city in eastern DR Congo — report
13:36 Ukraine crisis
Zelensky goes on ‘witch hunt’ to shift blame for military failures — Ukrainian MP
13:28
Kyrgyzstan ready to exert utmost effort to foster ties with Russia — top diplomat
13:27
International Arctic Forum to be held in Murmansk on March 26-27 — Roscongress Foundation
13:24 Military operation in Ukraine
Ukraine launches drones at two enterprises in Russia’s Belgorod Region
13:20
America more divided than four years ago, says Rasmussen poll
13:12
Russia ready to aid Kyrgyzstan in its CSTO presidency — Lavrov
13:01
European Parliament votes to advise EU not to recognize presidential election in Belarus
12:52
Iran’s intelligence minister warns against accords with the US
All news
15 Jan, 07:48

US seeks Greenland to boost military pressure on Russia, China, Europe — experts

Russian experts also highlighted the "enormous interest" the US has in Greenland’s mineral resources

MOSCOW, January 15. /TASS/. The United States aims to use Greenland to substantially enhance its military influence and apply pressure on Russia and China, as well as on some European nations, according to experts interviewed by TASS.

Yury Knutov, a military expert and director of the Museum of the Air Defense Forces, noted that Greenland is home to the US’s Pituffik Space Base, which currently functions as a missile warning system and monitors the Arctic region. Additionally, there are remnants of another base on the island where numerous intermediate-range missiles were once planned for deployment in the 1960s, but the project was abandoned.

"Now that an arms race is underway in terms of shorter- and intermediate-range missiles, stationing such weapons in Greenland would not only secure the Murmansk area and the Northern Sea Route but also exert control over several European countries. <...> The US needs such bases to apply military pressure," Knutov explained. According to him, without Greenland, the Arctic is virtually inaccessible to the US, as it lacks icebreakers, while Russia has 34 diesel-electric and seven nuclear-powered icebreakers.

Another military expert, Captain First Rank (ret.) Vasily Dandykin, argued that naval bases on the island represent a serious threat to Russia, enabling the tracking of Russian submarines. Discussing Trump’s claims on Canada, the expert emphasized that Greenland was a higher priority and that any statements about the island joining the US were more than political rhetoric. "It’s not a bluff; they [the Americans] can do that. If not purchase, then simply take it. They have the experience," Dandykin stated.

Politico experts have concluded that Denmark is unable to challenge the United States due to its lack of sufficient weapons and military equipment, especially since US troops have been stationed in Greenland since the 1940s.

Economic interests

Russian experts have highlighted the "enormous interest" the US has in Greenland’s mineral resources. They pointed out that the melting ice and new technologies now make resource extraction much easier. "Regarding resources, it’s humanity’s last untouched pantry," Dandykin remarked.

Knutov added that the Arctic shelf is rich in oil, gas, and rare earth elements, "and today, mining is less expensive than it was in the previous century."

Ksenia Bondarenko, an associate professor in the Department of World Economy at the Higher School of Economics, noted that the Arctic is becoming an important area of competition for military presence. "Denmark’s contribution to NATO’s Arctic presence is minimal. Owning Greenland would allow the US to significantly expand its military influence in the region and hinder the development of Russia’s Northern Sea Route and China’s activities," she explained. Bondarenko added that the media had been discussing Trump’s interest in purchasing Greenland since 2019. "Back then, Trump proposed an annual payment of $600 million for the right to own the island. It’s about the economy, business, politics, and military competition in the Arctic," the expert concluded.