Beijing slams Trump for citing Russia and China over ‘acquiring’ Greenland

The US president had previously claimed the two countries would “take over” the Danish island unless Washington did it first

Beijing takes exception to US President Donald Trump’s attempts to use Russia and China as an excuse for his push into the Arctic, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning has said.

Trump claimed last week that the US must annex Greenland – an autonomous former Danish colony under Copenhagen’s sovereignty – to contain Russia and China, suggesting that the two countries would “take over” the island unless Washington did it first.

Beijing “does not support the US using China or Russia as pretexts for its own self-interest,” Mao told a press conference on Monday. The Arctic “affects the common interests of the international community” and Beijing’s activities in the region “strengthen peace, stability and sustainable development in accordance with international law.”

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On Sunday, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul stated that Berlin is willing to cooperate with Trump to address a supposed “threat” from Russian and Chinese ships in the Arctic. However, other European officials have dismissed Trump’s threat assessment. 

Danish MP Rasmus Jarlov stated that “fantasies” about a major threat from China and Russia against Greenland are “delusional.” A senior European diplomat also told the Financial Times that no Russian or Chinese military activity has been detected near Greenland.

Moscow has yet to officially respond to Trump’s latest remarks, but it has previously stressed that Greenland’s future must be determined by its citizens and dismissed claims that Russia poses a threat. 

Russian officials have also repeatedly spoken out against the militarization of the Arctic, framing it instead as a zone for peaceful cooperation, particularly with the US, rather than confrontation. President Vladimir Putin has described the region as an area of “enormous potential” for trade and development.