Russian President Vladimir Putin called the US plans to join Greenland serious and stated that they are extravagant to consider them extravagant. This is reported by the Russian media.
“Everyone knows well about the US plans for the accession of Greenland. You know, this can only surprise someone at first glance. And deeply mistakenly believe that this is some extravagant conversations of the new American administration. Nothing like that,” Putin said, speaking at the International Arctic Forum on Thursday.
According to him, we are talking about serious plans from the American side regarding Greenland. ” “These plans have long -standing historical roots and it is obvious that the United States will continue to promote geopolitical, military -political and economic interests in the Arctic on a systematic basis. As for Greenland, this is a matter that concerns two specific states and has nothing to do with us,” Putin said.
Speaking of the history of the issue, Putin recalled that the United States had such plans back in the 60s of the 19th century. Even then, the President of the Russian Federation recalled, the American administration considered the possibility of annexation of Greenland and Iceland.
“But this idea did not receive the support of the congress then. Let me remind you that by 1868 the purchase of Alaska was ridiculed in American newspapers. It was called madness,“ icy box ”and“ Garden of the White Bears of Andrew Johnson ”, the then president of the United States. But his proposals for Greenland failed. But today this is acquisition, I mean the acquisition of Alaska, – – I mean Surely, it is evaluated in the United States itself in a completely different way.
Therefore, there is nothing surprising in what is happening today, the president noted.
The President of the Russian Federation also announced an increase in the number of Russian troops in the Arctic.
“I will separately ask the government to extend the program of renovation of military towns closed by administrative -territorial entities in the Arctic, where our soldiers and officers live, their family,” said Putin, speaking at the Arctic – Dialogue International Arctic Forum on Thursday.
Such a renovation program, he said, should operate at least until 2030 with the annual volume of financial support from the federal budget of at least 10 billion rubles.
“I want to emphasize that this is, of course, and with the strengthening of our military component in this region – the number of military personnel will grow here,” said Putin.