Vladimir Putin issued a serious warning to Donald Trump over his plans to annex Greenland.
The 78-year-old Republican has previously called Greenland, a country located in the North Atlantic Ocean between Canada and Iceland, 'a very small population, but very, very large piece of land and very, very important for military security'.
During his Congress speech earlier this month (4 March) Trump declared he would get it 'one way or another'.
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He urged: "We strongly support your right to determine your own future, and if you choose, we welcome you into the United States of America."
Greenland, which is the world's largest island, is a territory of Denmark, meaning its citizens are Danish.
"We need Greenland for national security and even international security, and we're working with everybody involved to try and get it. But we need it really for international world security. And I think we're going to get it one way or the other," Trump added.
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While the POTUS has been extremely vocal about his desire to annex the territory, it's clear that Greenland, on the other hand, has made it beyond clear that it wants no part of the president's attempts to become its new leader.
And now, Russian president Putin, 72, has appeared to issue Trump with a warning as he said he was 'watching recent developments very closely'.
During a recent speech made on Thursday (27 March) at the International Arctic Forum, he talked of US intent towards Greenland.
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While claiming that the situation 'has nothing to do with us', he did add that Russia would be increasing its military foothold in the Arctic.
"It would be a grave mistake to think that this is just some eccentric talk of the new American administration, nothing of the kind," he said.
"We are talking about serious plans on the American side with regard to Greenland.
"Those plans have deep historic roots and it is obvious that the US will continue to promote their geopolitical, military and economic interests in the Arctic."
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Putin continued: "As for Greenland, I think that this is an issue that concerns two states and has nothing to do with us.
"However, we are concerned by the fact that the NATO countries increasingly identify the far north as a foothold for possible conflicts."
He went on to claim that the 'numbers of military servicemen in the Arctic will be rising', and they would be 'developing our response capabilities'.
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"We will not allow an encroachment of the sovereignty of our country... we will protect our national interests," Putin further declared.
However, he seemingly left the option for cooperation open as he said Russia would be willing to work with 'friendly states... possibly including Western countries'.
Topics: Donald Trump, Politics, World News, US News
Rhiannon Ingle