Trump serious about his Greenland ambitions, Putin says

The U.S. is serious about its plans to acquire Greenland, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on March 27, claiming that the idea has "historical roots."

In January, U.S. President Donald Trump refused to rule out the possibility of using military force to seize control of Greenland, which he said Washington needs for "economic security." He said on March 26 that the U.S. will "go as far as we have to go" in the matter of the Arctic island, which was seen by Denmark's Defense Ministry as an escalation of rhetoric.

Greenland is an autonomous territory of Denmark, a NATO member state and traditional U.S. ally. The Arctic island houses both Danish and U.S. military bases and has vast reserves of mineral wealth.

"This may only at first glance surprise some. It is a big mistake to believe that this is some extravagant talks by the new U.S. administration," Putin said during the International Arctic Forum in Russia's Murmansk.