Russia's ex-Prez Dmitry Medvedev suggests Trump or Musk should buy Greenland instead of US annexing it

The Deputy Chair of the Russian Security Council and the former President of Russia, Dmitry Medvedev, suggested that US President-elect Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk should buy Greenland instead of Washington annexing the island. On Sunday, a senior Russian official weighed in on US President-elect Donald Trump’s controversial proposal for the US government to purchase Greenland.

He insisted that either Trump or Musk should personally open their wallets if they want Greenland. “Not sure why the US, as a country, needs to annex Canada, Greenland, or even Britain, and take back the Panama Canal. There’s a more civilized way: @realDonaldTrump and @elonmusk could just buy the land, making it their private property,” Medvedev wrote in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Not sure why the US, as a country, needs to annex Canada, Greenland, or even Britain, and take back the Panama Canal. There's a more civilized way: @realDonaldTrump and @elonmusk could just buy the land, making it their private property.

— Dmitry Medvedev (@MedvedevRussiaE) December 29, 2024

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However, it is unclear whether the Russian officials delivered the remarks in all sincerity or it was just a sarcastic post. Earlier this month, Trump reiterated his wish to take over the Danish territory of Greenland, calling it an “absolute necessity.” Denmark quickly rejected the proposal, insisting that it was “absurd”.

Greenland is ’not for sale’: PM

Greenland Prime Minister Múte Egede hit back at Trump, noting that the island is “not for sale and will never be” after the American leader reiterated his ambition to buy it. While dismissing Trump’s remarks, Greenland’s leader responded to the matter swiftly. “Greenland is ours,” Egede wrote. “We are not for sale and will never be for sale. We must not lose our long struggle for freedom,” he added.

Egede’s remarks came hours after Trump nominated Ken Howery as the US ambassador to Denmark. Howery served as the American Ambassador to Sweden during Trump’s first stint in the White House. In December, Trump also suggested that the US should take back control over the Panama Canal, which is owned and operated by the Panama government-owned Panama Canal Authority.

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Back in 2019, Trump indicated that he wanted to purchase Greenland. At that time, he was mostly interested in the region’s natural resources and geopolitical relevance. Despite the then president’s frequent remarks on the matter, leaders in Denmark were not jazzed about his instances.

“Greenland is not for sale. Greenland is not Danish. Greenland belongs to Greenland. I strongly hope that this is not meant seriously,” Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said during a visit to Greenland in 2019. Frustrated by the rebuttal, Trump cancelled a meeting with her because she called Trump’s proposition “absurd”.

Despite several attempts, the plan to purchase Greenland ultimately fizzled out during Trump’s term. The idea was totally abandoned by US President Joe Biden’s administration. With the recent comments, it seems that Trump is interested in reviving his project after he takes back the Oval Office.