Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused the United States of long-standing ambitions over Greenland, claiming Washington has been eyeing the strategically located Arctic territory since the 1860s.
Speaking amid renewed geopolitical tensions in the Arctic, Putin said U.S. interest in Greenland dates back more than a century and a half. He drew a historical parallel with the U.S. purchase of Alaska from Russia in 1867–68, noting that the deal was widely mocked at the time.
Putin recalled how American newspapers of the era derided Alaska as “madness,” an “icebox,” and even a “garden of polar bears,” only for it later to prove strategically and economically valuable. The Russian leader suggested Greenland could follow a similar trajectory, given its location, natural resources, and growing importance as Arctic ice melts.
His remarks come as global powers increase their focus on the Arctic, driven by climate change, new shipping routes, and competition over resources. Greenland, an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, has increasingly featured in strategic discussions involving the U.S., Europe, and Russia.
By invoking history, Putin appeared to frame current Arctic rivalries as part of a much longer contest for influence—one he argues Washington has been quietly pursuing for generations.
