March 27, 2025 (EIRNS)—Russian President Vladimir Putin paid a visit to the Far North on March 27, speaking at the VI International Forum “Arctic—A Territory of Dialogue.” In his 37-minute comments, it was clear that he saw the Arctic not as a regional question, but rather as a global question of importance for Russia. The functioning of the Northern Sea Route year-round has enhanced Russia’s position in world trade, as well as its position as a major maritime nation.
There is every intention by the Putin government to utilize its position in the Arctic to regain and enhance the role it has as a major power, encompassing the greatest landmass of any country in the world. He is also intent on reviving the collaboration with the other Arctic nations, particularly the United States, after the demise of the Arctic Council as a result of the West’s attempt to contain Russia. He went through the various plans that are under consideration for bringing the Arctic and its resources into the world economy: the construction of new ports, the creation of new rail lines in the Far North, the upgrading of shipbuilding, including icebreakers and other vessels for the maritime trade route, and the enhancement of the extensive system of rivers—the Ob, the Yenisei and the Lena Rivers, which flow into the Arctic Ocean.
The significance of the region for Russia was also clearly indicated in his extensive comments on President Trump’s proposal to annex Greenland: “Suffice it to say about the plans of the United States to annex Greenland, as everyone is aware. But you know, it can surprise someone only at first glance. It is a profound mistake to treat it as some preposterous talk by the new U.S. administration. Nothing of the sort.
“In fact, the United States had such plans as far back as 1860s. As early as that, the U.S. administration was considering possible annexation of Greenland and Iceland. However, the idea did not enjoy support in the Congress then. …
“Thus what is happening today is not really surprising, particularly since this story only began back then, and it went on and on. In 1910, for example, a trilateral land swap deal was negotiated between the United States, Germany and Denmark. As a result, Greenland would have gone to the United States but the deal fell through then.”
Putin also noted the establishment of American bases in Greenland to protect it from the Nazis, when even then, there were talks of the U.S. purchasing Greenland.
“As to Greenland, this is an issue that concerns two specific nations and has nothing to do with us,” he said. Then he went into what he considered the real problem—the crazy Scandinavians, who want war. “But at the same time, of course, we are concerned about the fact that NATO countries are increasingly often designating the Far North as a springboard for possible conflicts and are practicing the use of troops in these conditions, including by their ‘new recruits’—Finland and Sweden, with whom, incidentally, until recently we had no problems at all.”
