Russia’s top diplomat has warned that U.S. ambitions regarding Greenland could deeply fracture the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) amid ongoing controversy over Washington’s push to assert control over the Arctic territory. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at a press conference that the bid by U.S. President Donald Trump to take over Greenland signals a “deep crisis” within NATO and could potentially pit one alliance member against another.
Lavrov told reporters that Trump’s pursuit of Greenland upends the Western “rule-based global order” and raises serious questions about NATO’s unity and future, noting that the alliance was not designed for one member to threaten another. He described Denmark’s sovereignty over Greenland as a vestige of colonial history while vehemently denying any Russian or Chinese intent to challenge control over the island.
The remarks come as European NATO allies, including France and Germany, have sent troops to Greenland to bolster security and push back against U.S. pressure, and Denmark has staunchly defended its autonomy and ownership of the territory. Critics argue that Washington’s rhetoric and actions—ranging from potential tariffs to aggressive strategic positioning—risk undermining decades of transatlantic cooperation.
Lavrov also used the platform to critique broader Western policy, framing the Greenland dispute as part of what Moscow sees as a broader erosion in Euro-Atlantic structures. His comments underscore how the Greenland issue, once peripheral, has become a flashpoint with implications for NATO cohesion and wider geopolitical tensions, news as reported.
