Moscow, Jan 9 (EFE).- Russia is watching US President-elect Donald Trump\u2019s remarks about acquiring Greenland, a Kremlin spokesperson said on Thursday, heaving a sigh of relief that the expansionist ambition has not gone beyond rhetoric as of now.<\/p>
\u201cSuch claims are largely part of the United States\u2019 bilateral relations with Denmark and other countries,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters.<\/p>
“We are closely following these dramatic developments – thank God, it has not gone beyond statements yet.”<\/p>
Peskov also noted the reaction from Panama, where authorities expressed confusion over Trump\u2019s comments, describing the situation as \u201cat the very least, a misunderstanding of the president-elect\u2019s stance.\u201dAsked about the potential impact of a US annexation of Greenland on Arctic geopolitics, Peskov said the Arctic remained a strategic priority for Russia.<\/p>
\u201cThe Arctic is a region of national interest for Russia. We are present there and will continue to be so. Our priority is to maintain peace and stability in the region, and we are open to working with other countries to ensure this,\u201d he said.<\/p>
Trump made the controversial statements during a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida on Tuesday. He did not rule out the use of economic or military force to regain control of the Panama Canal, acquire Greenland, or incorporate Canada as the 51st US state.<\/p>
His remarks drew immediate backlash from leaders in the affected countries, including Denmark, Panama, and Canada, as well as strong condemnation from most European Union heads of state.<\/p>
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova told Radio Sputnik that it was premature to offer any evaluation of his remarks about Canada and Greenland, <\/p>
“It seems to me that there are some questions to ask him. We must keep in mind that he has not yet taken office \u2026 ,\u201d Zakharova said.<\/p>
\u201cSo, for now, it should still be viewed from this perspective. Let\u2019s treat it that way. When he becomes president, when he takes office, and when he speaks on behalf of the nation and the people of the US in an official capacity, then, perhaps, it will be necessary, and it will be possible to assess, analyze, and so on,\u201d she said. EFE<\/p>
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