Nordic officials are dismissing U.S. President Donald Trump’s assertions regarding the presence of Russian and Chinese vessels operating near Greenland. According to a report by the Financial Times, these claims lack supporting intelligence and contribute to destabilizing rhetoric.
Two senior diplomats from Nordic countries, who have access to NATO intelligence briefings, informed the Financial Times that there is no evidence of Russian or Chinese ships or submarines operating in the vicinity of Greenland in recent years. This directly contradicts Trump’s rationale for U.S. control over the Arctic territory.
“I have seen the intelligence. There are no ships, no submarines,”
one diplomat stated.
Trump has previously asserted that Greenland is “covered with Russian and Chinese ships,” advocating for U.S. control of the island for reasons of national security—a narrative that has gained intensity in recent weeks.
Reactions from Nordic leaders
Norway’s Foreign Minister, Espen Barth Eide, conveyed to Norwegian broadcaster NRK that there is “very little” Russian or Chinese activity near Greenland, despite some ongoing Russian submarine movements closer to Norway.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson also expressed concerns regarding the Trump administration’s actions in Venezuela and the implications for international law during an annual security conference in northern Sweden. He stated that Sweden is “highly critical” of the current U.S. approach.
“We are probably even more critical of the rhetoric that is being expressed against Greenland and Denmark,” Kristersson remarked, emphasizing that the rules-based international order is facing unprecedented strain.
He urged the U.S. to recognize Denmark’s longstanding role as a dedicated ally rather than provoking tensions over Greenland, asserting, “On the contrary, the United States should thank Denmark.”
Greenland’s stance
In a show of solidarity, leaders from all five parties within Greenland’s parliament reiterated their position in a joint statement released late Friday. They declared: “We do not want to be Americans, we do not want to be Danes, we want to be Greenlanders.” This unified stance reflects Greenland’s desire for autonomy and its rejection of external pressures regarding its geopolitical significance.