Putin backs Trump’s plan to take over Greenland, signaling their shared vision for a new world order – Analysis

 

As the US shifts its focus toward territorial expansion in the west, the Kremlin's support signals a deeper alignment in challenging global norms. When JD Vance landed in Greenland, the Trump administration received an unexpected endorsement for its first potential territorial acquisition since 1947—Vladimir Putin.

Speaking at an Arctic policy forum in Murmansk on Thursday, Putin presented a more detailed justification for Donald Trump’s plan to annex Greenland than any US official had yet provided. His historical argument, however, conveniently mirrored Russia’s own territorial ambitions in Ukraine.

“The US’s plans to take control of Greenland may surprise some at first glance, but it would be a mistake to dismiss them as mere rhetoric from the new administration,” Putin began. “This is not an outlandish idea.”

Putin recalled that the US had attempted to buy Greenland in the 1960s, only to be thwarted by Congress. He also noted that the US had protected Greenland from Nazi occupation in the 1940s and had previously made an offer to purchase the island, which was rejected. Even as far back as 1910, he argued, the US had designs on Greenland, describing its ambitions as “serious” and “historically rooted.”

Shifting focus to Alaska, Putin reminded his audience that Russia had sold the territory to the US in 1867—a transaction that has since become a source of national regret. “By 1868, the purchase of Alaska was ridiculed in American newspapers,” he said. “Yet today, it is widely seen as a strategic success.”

In essence, Putin’s message was clear: Major powers have territorial ambitions, and land acquisitions are not merely historical relics but a present-day reality. Rejecting long-standing international norms against territorial expansion by force or coercion, he asserted that such matters were none of Russia’s concern.

“As for Greenland, this is an issue between two states and does not involve us,” Putin remarked. However, he emphasized that Russia would continue to defend its interests in the Arctic against perceived threats from nations such as Finland and Sweden.

Putin’s endorsement of Trump’s annexation plan is hardly surprising. As US influence in Europe declines, the Kremlin is capitalizing on the opportunity to establish its long-sought “multipolar world,” asserting dominance over regions like Ukraine and Belarus. Since his 2007 Munich speech, Putin has railed against US hegemony, and now, with Trump, he finds a kindred spirit who shares his disdain for the postwar global order.

Putin’s argument—that nations should mind their own affairs—aligns closely with Trump’s transactional worldview and deep skepticism of international institutions. Trump has been openly critical of organizations such as the United Nations, the International Criminal Court, and even economic alliances like the EU, which he once claimed was “formed to exploit the United States.”

“The postwar global order is not just obsolete—it is now a weapon being used against us,” Senator Marco Rubio declared during his confirmation hearing in January. Rubio represents a more moderate faction of Trump’s cabinet, while figures like JD Vance advocate for an aggressive rollback of US commitments in Europe and even antagonizing traditional allies.

As US influence wanes abroad, the White House has declared sweeping ambitions throughout the Western Hemisphere. Some commentators have drawn comparisons to the Monroe Doctrine of 1823, under which the US asserted itself as the dominant power in the region. With each statement suggesting that the US should reclaim the Panama Canal or incorporate Canada as its 51st state, Trump finds a willing supporter in the Kremlin—one who sees in him a reflection of his own vision for a restructured global order.