Russian ally warns Trump's Greenland ambitions could spark nuclear war

Friday 16 January 2026 - 08:20

By: Dakir Madiha

Russian ally warns Trump's Greenland ambitions could spark nuclear war

A close associate of Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a stark warning, claiming that US President Donald Trump's pursuit of Greenland could ignite the "beginning of the end of the world." The alert comes amid rising tensions, prompting NATO allies to station troops on the Arctic island as a show of resolve.

Dmitri Rogozine, former Russian deputy prime minister and ex-head of the Russian space agency, now a senator in occupied Ukrainian territory overseeing a drone military unit, accuses Trump of seeking nuclear strike capabilities in Greenland to gain atomic dominance over Russia and China. He ties the bid to Washington's planned 175 billion dollar "Golden Dome" missile defense system, designed to counter Russian hypersonic weapons. "Orbital sensors, ground interceptors, decision-making algorithms, all require advantageous geography," Rogozine stated, highlighting Greenland's Arctic position, proximity to Russia, and ideal alignment for intercepting intercontinental ballistic missiles from the north.

Rogozine cautioned that any thermonuclear conflict would erupt in the Arctic, the swiftest route for nuclear warheads between major powers. He referenced the Pentagon's failed 1960s "Iceworm" project, which aimed to hide missiles under Greenland's ice but collapsed due to geological instability.

In response, European NATO members have bolstered their Arctic footprint. France, Germany, Sweden, and Norway deployed forces to Nuuk, Greenland's capital, for Denmark's "Operation Arctic Endurance" exercises. Germany sent 13 reconnaissance troops, France dispatched 15 soldiers with more to follow. Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen announced reinforcements including aircraft, ships, and personnel, noting, "No one can predict what will happen tomorrow."

These moves followed White House talks where US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen and Greenland's Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt. Rasmussen later cited "fundamental disagreements," adding that the president harbors a desire to acquire Greenland.

Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen firmly rejected US overtures, stating alongside Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, "If we have to choose, we choose Denmark. Greenland does not want to be governed by the United States or become part of it." Russia dismissed NATO's threat assessments as "a myth meant to stir hysteria," with the Kremlin watching from the sidelines as NATO divisions align with Moscow's broader interests.