Russia’s foreign minister recently proposed that Britain should consider dropping the word “Great” from its official name, drawing a comparison to the former regime of Muammar Gaddafi in Libya. During a press conference in Moscow, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov expressed his opinion that Britain should simply be called “Britain” as it is unique in calling itself “Great.” Lavrov highlighted the historical example of the “Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya” under Gaddafi’s authoritarian rule, which no longer exists.
While the UK is commonly referred to as “Great Britain,” its full official name is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The term “Great Britain” originates from the Russian term “Velikobritaniya,” where “veliko” translates to “great” or “large.” Notably, “Great Britain” technically refers specifically to the island comprising England, Scotland, and Wales.
The use of “Great” in “Great Britain” historically served as a geographical identifier to distinguish the island from Brittany in France. This distinction dates back to Greco-Roman geographer Ptolemy in the second century AD, who used “megale Brettania” (Great Britain) and “mikra Brettania” (Little Britain) in his writings.
Lavrov’s comments came within a broader discussion on colonialism, triggered by ongoing developments in the Greenland crisis. He contested the idea that Greenland is a natural part of Denmark, labeling it as a colonial conquest and highlighting the complexities of former colonial territories.
Dismissing claims of Moscow seeking control over Greenland, Lavrov criticized European leaders for allegedly preparing for war against Russia. He emphasized the need to address the underlying issues surrounding the crisis in Ukraine, accusing the West of fostering tensions and supporting what he described as a “Nazi regime” that emerged from the 2014 coup.
Despite the controversial remarks, Lavrov concluded by inviting questions and stating, “No offence,” during the press conference.