‘Will Go Down In History’, ‘Selfish Interests’: Russia, China Hit Out At Trump On Greenland

Last Updated:January 19, 2026, 19:16 IST

Dmitry Peskov and Guo Jiakun hit back after Donald Trump links global security to US control of Greenland.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov and China’s Guo Jiakun react after Donald Trump says global security depends on US control of Greenland. (IMAGE: REUTERS)

Russia and China on Monday criticised US President Donald Trump’s repeated remarks about taking control of Greenland, with Moscow saying he would “go down in history" if such a move were realised, and Beijing accusing Washington of using a “so-called China threat" to pursue its own interests.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, commenting on Trump’s statements, said international experts believed that resolving the issue of Greenland’s accession would make Trump a historic figure. “By resolving the issue of Greenland’s accession, Trump will go down not only in US history, but in world history as well," Peskov was quoted as saying by Russia’s TASS news agency. He added that it was difficult to disagree with that assessment, without commenting on whether such a move would comply with international law.

China also pushed back strongly against Trump’s remarks linking Greenland to alleged Chinese and Russian security threats. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said the United States should stop invoking a China threat as justification for its actions. “We urge the United States to stop using the so-called threat from China as a pretext to pursue its own selfish interests," Guo said.

Trump’s comments have triggered sharp reactions across Europe, as well as concern in Greenland and among NATO allies. Speaking in remarks published on Monday, Trump said the world would “not be secure" unless the United States had “complete and total control" of Greenland. He also said he no longer felt an obligation to think “purely of peace" after being overlooked for the Nobel Peace Prize, though he maintained that peace would remain a “predominant" goal.

The US President has repeatedly argued that Greenland is critical to American national security, despite the United States already maintaining a military presence on the island and having defence agreements with Denmark, a fellow NATO member. Greenland is an autonomous territory of Denmark.

European leaders have denounced Trump’s threats to impose tariffs on countries opposing his Greenland plans, with Germany and France describing the move as “blackmail". The European Union has said it will hold an emergency summit to consider its response, while stressing that its preference is to engage rather than escalate.

Greenland’s leadership has also rejected external pressure. Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said the territory would not be intimidated, asserting Greenland’s right to make its own decisions as a democratic society.

Trump has previously proposed buying Greenland during his first term and has since escalated his rhetoric, warning of tariffs and criticising Europe’s intentions to deploy forces on the island, which he described as a “very dangerous game".

News world ‘Will Go Down In History’, ‘Selfish Interests’: Russia, China Hit Out At Trump On Greenland

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