After Greenland, Canada next? Putin envoy flags Trump’s ‘annexation’ push

Greenland standoff sparks fears of wider US moves

A senior aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin has suggested that Canada could be the next target of US President Donald Trump’s expansionist ambitions, claiming that the outcome over Greenland now appears largely settled.

Kirill Dmitriev, Putin’s special envoy, also accused the European Union of exhibiting “double standards” over the Greenland issue, saying the bloc would continue doing what it does best: “monitoring the situation”.

In a post on X, Dmitriev wrote: “Greenland seems decided—the EU will continue doing what vassals do best: ‘monitoring the situation’ and exemplifying double standards. Canada next?”

Greenland seems decided—the EU will continue doing what vassals do best: “monitoring the situation” and exemplifying double standards. Canada next? 🇨🇦 https://t.co/Dzm5yYBjD0

— Kirill Dmitriev (@kadmitriev) January 6, 2026

Dmitriev shared a clip from a CNN interview with US homeland security adviser Stephen Miller, who was responding to questions about Trump’s renewed remarks on Greenland. During the interview, Miller questioned Denmark’s authority over the territory.

“The real question is: by what right does Denmark assert control over Greenland? What is the basis of their territorial claim? What is their basis of having Greenland as a colony of Denmark? The US is the power of NATO,” Miller said.

Trump’s renewed focus on Greenland has heightened international tensions, with Danish and European leaders warning that any attempt to take control of the island could fracture the NATO alliance.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has warned that an American takeover would “amount to the end of NATO”. She said that if the United States were to attack another NATO member militarily, “then everything stops”, including the security arrangements in place since the Second World War.

Greenland, a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, holds strategic importance due to its vast reserves of rare earth minerals vital for modern technologies, as well as its critical location for Arctic security and surveillance.

The US Department of Defence already operates the Pituffik Space Base in Greenland, which supports missile warning and space surveillance for both the US and NATO. The island also sits astride the GIUK Gap, a key area for monitoring Russian naval activity in the North Atlantic.

Trump has argued that Denmark lacks the capacity to defend Greenland against Russian and Chinese influence. He has mocked Danish security efforts, saying they have added only “one more dog sled” and claiming the region is “covered with Russian and Chinese ships”.

Danish officials and Greenland’s government, however, insist that sovereignty rests solely with the people of Greenland, who alone will determine the island’s future.

Concerns have intensified following a recent “dead-of-night” US military operation in Caracas that led to the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, fuelling fears of broader American interventions. Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens Frederik Nielsen urged calm, saying that while the situation is serious, Greenland cannot be compared to Venezuela and the US cannot “simply conquer” the island.

Leaders from France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom have joined Denmark in reaffirming support for Greenland’s sovereignty. With a 20-day timeline referenced by Trump heightening anxiety, Danish authorities have acknowledged that the rhetoric has escalated to a point where the possibility of a takeover can no longer be dismissed lightly.

(With inputs from agencies)