Medvedev mocks Trump: Russia might 'annex' Greenland first

In a satirical post on Monday, Dmitry Medvedev, the Deputy Chairman of Russia's Security Council, mocked US President Donald Trump's persistent interest in acquiring Greenland, suggesting the autonomous Danish territory might instead opt to join Russia. Medvedev quipped that if Trump did not act swiftly, a "sudden referendum" could see Greenland's 55,000 residents choose integration with Moscow.

A Barbed Response to US Geopolitical Moves

The former Russian president and prime minister used his statement on the Russian platform Max to layer sarcasm over the serious geopolitical tensions in the Arctic. He directly referenced Trump's unsubstantiated claims that Greenland is "covered with Russian and Chinese submarines," turning the US leader's security anxieties into a punchline. Medvedev's comments are widely seen as a pointed, ironic response to the recent US military operation that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, with the Russian official absurdly claiming that a US takeover of Greenland would help "eliminate the hornets' nest of drug mafia" in its capital, Nuuk.

Mocking Titles and "American Phobes"

Medvedev extended his ridicule to Trump's social media persona, referencing a fabricated Wikipedia image the US president shared labeling himself "acting president of Venezuela." Medvedev suggested that after "capturing" Greenland, the "brilliant Trump would acquire a new title—acting president of Greenland, which he would handle excellently." He concluded by claiming such an operation would bring to justice European "Americaphobes" like Macron and Starmer, whom he accused of defending the "infernal filth" of Greenland.

Context of Escalating Arctic Competition

The satirical broadside did not emerge in a vacuum. It followed the introduction of a bill by Republican Congressman Randy Fine proposing the annexation of Greenland, underscoring that the idea has currency within a segment of the US political establishment. Medvedev, known for his provocative and often inflammatory rhetoric, used humor to highlight the absurdity of the discourse while simultaneously signaling Russia's acute sensitivity to any potential shift in the Arctic balance of power, a region where it holds significant territorial claims and strategic interests.