Russia has no aggressive plans of any kind regarding Greenland, currently claimed by the United States "to prevent it from falling into the hands of Moscow or Beijing," stated Russian Ambassador to Denmark, Vladimir Barbin, today.
"Russia has no aggressive plans against its neighbors in the Arctic, does not threaten them with military actions, does not blackmail them, and does not intend to occupy their territories," he asserted in statements to the Russian news agency TASS.
Additionally, the interim president of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, used her first speech on the state of the nation to advocate for opening up the strategic state oil industry to greater foreign investment, after the Donald Trump administration promised to take control of Venezuelan oil sales.
Russia: Greenland situation "deviates from the norm" according to international law
The situation in Greenland "deviates from the norm" according to international law, due to the United States' plans to take control of that Arctic island belonging to Denmark, according to the Kremlin.
"We, like the rest of the world, are monitoring the situation around Greenland. We observe a very controversial situation. We proceed from the premise that Greenland is territory of the Kingdom of Denmark," said the spokesperson for the Russian Presidency, Dmitri Peskov, in his daily telephone press conference.
He recalled that international law is not a "priority" for the U.S. President, Donald Trump, as he recently declared.
The day before, the Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Maria Zakharova, stated that Russia is closely following the situation around Greenland and believes that differences should be resolved through negotiations based on international law.
How long will NATO chief remain silent on Greenland?
NATO Secretary-General, Mark Rutte, seems to have chosen to speak as little as possible to keep the Alliance out of the dispute between the United States and Denmark over Greenland, but it remains to be seen if his strategy will be successful.
Rutte avoids difficult questions and continues to praise U.S. President Donald Trump despite his threat to annex Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory, supposedly to ensure U.S. security.
Pretensions that could dismantle the military alliance established 76 years ago and of which both the United States and Denmark are part. "The inhabitants of Greenland are terrified," said Danish MEP Stine Bosse. "Please tell us what this alliance can do if two countries within the alliance fail to reach an agreement," she added.
"My role as Secretary-General is very clear: I never comment when there are discussions within the alliance," he replied. "We work behind the scenes," said Rutte, elected in 2024 for his ability to deal with Trump, with whom he managed to establish a relationship of trust.
Government encourages Delcy Rodríguez to go "all the way" in releasing all political prisoners
José Manuel Albares has encouraged the new acting president of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, to go "all the way" in releasing all political prisoners after the first releases, which have included nine Spaniards.
The Foreign Minister reiterated that the releases - 84 since January 8 according to the Venezuelan organization Foro Penal - constitute "a positive step by the new acting president in this new stage that has opened in Venezuela" after the U.S. military intervention in which President Nicolás Maduro was captured.
"I hope that more steps are taken and that all political prisoners are released, that will be a very good sign," the head of diplomacy assessed. "We encourage the acting president in this new stage to go all the way in this process," he added, emphasizing that both Spain and the EU have to "support that process in favor of the Venezuelans."
Albares on sending troops to Greenland: Decision will be made when there is a "clear picture"
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union, and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, indicated that the Government will make a decision regarding the sending of troops to Greenland once there is a "clear picture" based on the contacts being maintained with other European countries.
Albares explained in statements on 'Telecinco', collected by Europa Press, that the Greenlanders have already made it clear that they want to continue being part of Denmark and that he does not consider that they need a "change of sovereignty" to pass into the hands of the United States, as President Donald Trump intends.
"We are having a series of meetings with the rest of the European partners" who are concerned about the situation in Greenland just like Spain, he explained. "We are exchanging views and getting a clear picture, and once we have all the elements, decisions will be made as necessary," he emphasized.
US lawmakers arrive in Copenhagen to counter Trump's threats on Greenland
A bipartisan delegation of U.S. lawmakers will meet on Friday with the leaders of Denmark and Greenland to reassure them about Congress's support, despite President Donald Trump's threats to seize the Arctic island. Trump has said that Greenland is vital for U.S. security due to its strategic location and large mineral reserves, and has not ruled out the use of force to take it. This week, European countries sent small military contingents to the island at Denmark's request.
The U.S. delegation, composed of 11 members and led by Democratic Senator Chris Coons, is scheduled to meet with Danish Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, and her Greenlandic counterpart, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, according to Frederiksen's office.
"In a time of increasing international instability, we need to get closer to our allies, not push them away," Coons said in a statement released earlier this week, adding that the delegation will send "a clear message that Congress is committed to NATO." The delegation includes Republican senators Thom Tillis and Lisa Murkowski, although it is mostly composed of Democratic lawmakers.
Italy updates its stance on the Arctic amid escalating tensions around Greenland
The Arctic has become a stage of growing strategic rivalry, notes a document from the Italian government that will be presented on Friday, citing the "massive military presence" of Russia on its northern flank and the U.S. interest in Greenland.
Italy has observer status in the Arctic Council, the body that oversees the region, since 2013, and has updated its policy at a time when recent tensions between the United States and Denmark over Greenland have heightened attention on the area.
In the draft policy document, reviewed by Reuters, Rome points to Moscow's renewed interest in the Arctic, "where vital energy and mineral resources for the country's security are located," which has included a strengthening of its military presence.
France says U.S. action against Greenland could jeopardize EU trade
French Finance Minister, Roland Lescure, warned U.S. Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, that any move to seize Greenland would "cross a red line" and jeopardize Europe's economic relationship with Washington, the Financial Times reported on Friday.
"Greenland is a sovereign part of a sovereign country that is part of the EU. That should not be played with," Lescure told the FT.
Asked whether the EU should respond with economic sanctions if U.S. President, Donald Trump, were to invade Greenland, Lescure told the FT: "I'm not going to get into that. I mean, obviously, if that were to happen, we would be in a completely new world, no doubt, and we would have to adapt accordingly."
Canadian Prime Minister praises "strategic partnership" with China in meeting with Xi
Canadian Prime Minister, Mark Carney, praised a "new strategic partnership" with Beijing during talks he held on Friday with President Xi Jinping, in the first visit by a Canadian leader to China in eight years.