Arctic Standoff: Russia Warns of Military Action over U.S. “Golden Dome” in Greenland

Tensions in the High North reached a critical point on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, as Russia issued a stark warning to the United States regarding its “Golden Dome” missile defense initiative. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, speaking from Beijing, declared that Moscow is prepared to take “military-technical countermeasures” if Washington proceeds with deploying advanced missile defense systems to Greenland.

The warning comes as the New START treaty—the last remaining nuclear arms control pact between the two superpowers—is set to expire tomorrow, February 5, 2026, without a successor agreement in place.

The “Golden Dome” for America

Inspired by Israel’s Iron Dome but designed on a “Manhattan Project” scale, the Golden Dome is the Trump administration’s vision for a multi-layered shield to protect North America from ballistic, hypersonic, and cruise missiles.

• Greenland’s Role: Due to its location near the North Pole, Greenland is the “operational fulcrum” for the system. It serves as the primary site for forward-based sensors and interceptors designed to destroy missiles in their “boost phase” shortly after launch.
• Space-Based Components: The system includes a network of space-based interceptors, which the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists recently warned is “likely fueling a new space-based arms race.”
• Pituffik Space Base: Formerly known as Thule, this existing facility is being upgraded to support the “Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture” (PWSA), a decentralized satellite network that acts as the backbone of the Dome.

The Expiration of New START

The timing of Ryabkov’s threat is tied to the collapse of nuclear diplomacy. With the treaty expiring in 24 hours, both nations will, for the first time since 1972, be without legally binding limits on their nuclear arsenals.

• Nuclear Limits: New START currently limits both sides to 1,550 deployed strategic warheads.
• The “One-Year” Proposal: Vladimir Putin suggested in late 2025 that both sides mutually observe these limits for one additional year. While President Trump initially called this a “good idea,” he has since pivoted, stating he wants a “better agreement” that includes China.
• The Risk: Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, warned that the world should be “alarmed” by the lapse, as it removes the guardrails that have prevented a full-scale nuclear arms race for decades.

The “Greenland Crisis” and NATO

The deployment of the Golden Dome is entangled in a broader geopolitical struggle over the sovereignty of Greenland, a constituent part of the Kingdom of Denmark.

1. The Davos “Framework”: In late January 2026, President Trump announced a “framework of a future deal” with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte. This agreement reportedly took military force “off the table” and halted planned U.S. tariffs on European allies in exchange for a NATO-led “Arctic Sentry” mission.
2. Russian Commentary: Interestingly, Moscow has used the friction between the U.S. and its NATO allies to its advantage. While opposing the Golden Dome, Russian state media has highlighted the “stubbornness” of Denmark and suggested the crisis could spell the end of the NATO alliance.

Global Nuclear Stockpiles (Current Estimates)