Trump and Putin’s Growing Alliance Raises Global Concerns

By Sedat LAÇİNER

* New World Order?: Have Putin and Trump divided the world between them? While the US remains silent about Russia's attacks on Ukraine, Putin says "it's none of our business" about the US's Greenland plans...

The relationship between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin appears to be entering a new phase, one that could unsettle the international community. Observers fear that the two leaders may be carving up global influence in a manner reminiscent of the Yalta Conference.

Speaking in Murmansk, the world’s largest city north of the Arctic Circle, Putin addressed Trump’s stated intention to annex Greenland. “This is a matter concerning two specific nations and has nothing to do with Russia,” he said, framing the issue as an affair between the United States and Denmark.

Putin’s remarks suggest a calculated indifference—an implicit signal that Russia would not oppose U.S. control over Greenland. The Russian leader’s stance raises questions: If not Russia, then who else would be interested in Greenland, the world's largest island, located directly across from Russian territory? His words appear to extend a diplomatic gesture to Trump, as if to say, “Go ahead; we will not stand in your way.”

This development aligns with earlier predictions suggesting a tacit agreement between Trump and Putin—one that could redraw geopolitical boundaries. Analysts had speculated that Ukraine might fall under Russian control while Greenland could be ceded to the United States. Recent events appear to validate that theory.

Putin emphasized that dismissing Trump’s ambitions for Greenland would be a mistake. “It would be foolish to view this as mere rhetoric from the new U.S. administration. Nothing of the sort,” he said. “The United States has pursued such plans since the 1860s and even attempted to purchase Greenland from Denmark after World War II.” He underscored Washington’s long-standing strategic, military, and economic interests in the Arctic.

What is striking is Putin’s neutral, if not approving, tone. He takes Trump’s Greenland ambitions seriously but refrains from criticism. If former U.S. President Joe Biden had made similar statements, Putin’s reaction might have been far less accommodating.

A New Arctic Power Struggle?

Trump has consistently argued that acquiring Greenland is an “absolute necessity” for U.S. national security. While much of the world either dismissed his statements as outlandish or met them with skepticism, Putin appears to be one of the few global leaders who agrees.

Putin’s acknowledgment of America’s long-standing interest in the mineral-rich Arctic raises the possibility of a larger geopolitical understanding—or even an emerging division of influence. His remarks suggest that either a deal has already been struck or negotiations are underway.

Russia, for its part, is prioritizing Arctic expansion. “The significance of the Arctic is growing, not only for Russia but for the entire world,” Putin said. “At the same time, geopolitical competition and the struggle for dominance in the region are intensifying.”

In his speech, Putin outlined Russia’s Arctic ambitions, emphasizing the need to enhance transport and logistics. The rapid melting of Arctic ice has opened new opportunities for shipping, resource extraction, and economic development. Countries including Russia, Canada, and the United States are investing heavily in Arctic infrastructure, aiming to develop ports and improve navigation in the region.

The Changing Arctic Landscape

Until recently, the Arctic’s year-round ice cover severely restricted maritime trade. Russian ports were largely inaccessible during much of the year, with transportation in the Barents and Siberian seas relying on icebreakers at specific times. This made Arctic trade both costly and logistically challenging.

However, as climate change accelerates ice melt, global shipping routes are shifting. The Arctic is emerging as a viable commercial corridor, with shorter and cheaper routes connecting Asia, Europe, and North America. A cargo vessel departing from China, for instance, can reach Europe faster and at a lower cost by traveling along Russia’s northern coastline.

This evolving reality has strengthened Russia-China cooperation in the Arctic. But if the U.S. can secure a separate agreement with Russia, it may successfully disrupt Moscow’s growing ties with Beijing.

Putin’s NATO Warnings

Even as Putin signals his lack of opposition to Trump’s Arctic ambitions, he remains critical of NATO’s military presence in the region. “We are concerned that NATO countries are increasingly designating the Far North as a springboard for potential conflicts and are actively conducting military exercises in these conditions,” he said.

By “Far North,” Putin is referring to Northern Europe, the Baltic Sea, and the Arctic regions where NATO forces have been increasing their activities. In recent years, the alliance has conducted military drills in Scandinavia and the Arctic.

The recent addition of Finland and Sweden to NATO has further aggravated Russia. “Until recently, we had no issues with Finland and Sweden. Now, they are causing problems,” Putin stated. “Why? It is impossible to understand. Nevertheless, we will adapt to the current realities and respond accordingly.”

Russia, he said, has already taken steps to counter NATO’s growing presence in the Arctic, strengthening its combat capabilities and modernizing its military infrastructure. “We will not tolerate any encroachments on our country’s sovereignty and will resolutely defend our national interests,” Putin warned.

Finland and Sweden, long proponents of military neutrality, abandoned their nonaligned stance following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Their accession to NATO has reshaped the security dynamics in Northern Europe, with Finland sharing a long land border with Russia and Sweden holding a maritime boundary.

Finland and Sweden, long proponents of military neutrality, abandoned their nonaligned stance following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Their accession to NATO has reshaped the security dynamics in Northern Europe, with Finland sharing a long land border with Russia and Sweden holding a maritime boundary.

A New Global Order?

If Trump and Putin are indeed negotiating a geopolitical realignment, the implications could be profound—particularly for Europe.

Greenland, it appears, could come under U.S. control. Some speculate that Canada may align even more closely with Washington, effectively consolidating North American influence in the Arctic. This would leave the North Pole divided between Russia and the United States, with European nations such as Norway, Iceland, the United Kingdom, and Denmark left on the sidelines.

If Greenland were to shift to U.S. control, Europe’s geopolitical leverage in the Arctic would be significantly diminished. There is even speculation that Russia could assert control over certain Norwegian islands, further undermining European influence.

For Washington, an Arctic pact with Russia could offer significant advantages. If Trump can successfully drive a wedge between Moscow and Beijing, he would secure a major strategic victory.

For Europe, however, the outlook is bleak. Having already faced setbacks in Ukraine, the continent may now be witnessing another geopolitical loss—this time, in the Arctic.

By Sedat Laçiner
28 March 2025