00:00U.S. President Donald Trump recently claimed that Greenland is surrounded by Russian and Chinese ships,
00:06arguing that the U.S. needs control of the island for national security.
00:10We need Greenland from a national security situation.
00:15It's so strategic. Right now, Greenland is covered with Russian and Chinese ships all over the place.
00:22The remark sparked international outrage.
00:24Greenland MP Aja Shemnitz accused Trump of spreading lies, a sentiment echoed by Denmark's foreign minister.
00:33So what is the truth behind Trump's claims?
00:36And does the U.S. really need control of Greenland for its own national security?
00:40Well, vessel tracking data does not really support these claims.
00:44We checked this report, the latest by the Danish intelligence service from December 2025.
00:49It states that China currently has no military presence in the Arctic.
00:55Operating only four civilian icebreakers and a research vessel, however, none near Greenland.
01:01These ships actually operate approximately 1,000 kilometers northwest of Greenland, near the Bering Strait.
01:08The same report also analyzed Russian presence, finding that Russia is systematically using civilian vessels,
01:14such as fishing boats, to monitor the waters between Greenland, Iceland and Great Britain,
01:19in preparation for a potential conflict with NATO.
01:23However, there are no reports of imminent threats.
01:27Open source analysts back this up.
01:30This OSINT specialist states on social media that there has been no activity by Russian warships off Greenland since at least September 2023.
01:39As experts conclude that even though the occasional sighting of Chinese or Russian ships are not unusual,
01:46this doesn't mean a risk of invasion.
01:49What's important here is Russia and China's ambitions in the Arctic,
01:54where both countries have increased their general activity and investment,
01:58with Russia militarizing the Arctic and expanding its naval presence there,
02:03both seeking influence via infrastructure, mining and research.
02:08So what is true?
02:10Greenland is strategically crucial.
02:12It sits at the crossroads of North America, Europe and the Arctic,
02:17with the latter becoming a major stage due to melting ice, opening new shipping routes and access to critical minerals.
02:24As the US already operates a military base in Greenland with existing treaties allowing military expansion if requested.
