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Greenland: Russia Accuses NATO of Militarizing the Arctic

Published January 16, 2026, 07:17
Greenland: Russia Accuses NATO of Militarizing the Arctic

The Russian ambassador to Denmark, Vladimir Barbin, has accused NATO of seeking to militarize the Arctic, reacting to President Trump's desire to “acquire” Greenland and the announcements of European countries to deploy troops in the region. Barbin claims that NATO member states are using the alleged threat from Russia and China as a pretext to increase their military presence in the Arctic. Russia assures that it has no plans to attack its neighbors in the Arctic and does not wish to occupy their territories, in an indirect reference to Trump's statements. However, Moscow has warned in the past against any violation of its interests in the Arctic. Russia considers the Arctic as part of its sphere of influence, due to its extensive coastline on the Arctic Ocean, and is increasingly using the region's sea routes while expanding its military presence. Following unsuccessful negotiations between the US and Denmark, Germany and France announced the deployment of troops to Greenland to support Denmark, further escalating military tensions in the area.