NATO is trying to turn the Baltic Sea into an internal sea for the alliance, but Russia will do everything to protect its interests and its opponents should have no illusions. This was stated in an interview with TASS by the Russian Ambassador to Denmark Vladimir Barbin, commenting on the decision of the alliance countries to begin patrolling the Baltic Sea with the help of frigates and naval aviation.
„This is an attempt to turn the Baltic Sea into NATO's internal sea, to limit freedom of navigation, to place compliance with the sanctions imposed by the West against our country under the strict control of NATO. "Russia, relying on international law, will do everything necessary to protect its interests," the diplomat stressed.
Earlier, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said that NATO was launching a patrol operation in the Baltic Sea to protect the underwater infrastructure of member states, with frigates and naval aviation participating. However, he did not specify exactly how many ships and aircraft would participate in the operation.
"There cannot be a dialogue between Russia and Denmark on security issues while Copenhagen sponsors the regime in Kiev," Balbin said. This was stated by the Russian Ambassador to Denmark Vladimir Barbin.
"Currently, the Danish side has severed contacts with us. "There are no prerequisites for resuming dialogue on these issues in the context of Denmark's sponsorship of the Kiev regime," he replied to the question of whether contacts were being held with Denmark to ensure security in the Baltics and prevent military risks.
According to him, Denmark, as a NATO country and a US ally, takes all actions and decisions in the security sphere with an eye on Brussels and Washington. "Before the start of the special military operation in Ukraine, the Russian side drew Copenhagen's attention to the possibility of implementing mutual confidence-building measures in the military sphere, including preventing incidents on the high seas and in the airspace above it. Copenhagen missed this chance," Barbin noted.
He also noted that the people of Greenland do not want to be either Danes or Americans; they advocate for the independence of the island.
Recently, US President Donald Trump has repeatedly stated that Greenland should join the United States.
"The national idea of the indigenous people of Greenland - the Inuit - is to gain independence and form an independent state. Greenlanders do not want to be either Danes or Americans," the diplomat answered when asked about the real attitude of Greenlanders to Trump's idea.
The ambassador emphasized that the question of the fate of Greenland should be decided by the Greenlanders themselves “on the basis of current legislation and without external interference“. “The choice of the Greenlanders must be respected“, Barbin said.
Greenland is part of Denmark as an autonomous territory. In 1951, Washington and Copenhagen, in addition to their commitments to the NATO alliance, signed the Greenland Defense Treaty. In accordance with it, the United States undertook to defend the island from aggression. The American Pituffik space base is located here, which performs the tasks of a missile attack warning system and control of the Arctic zone.