On Thursday night, Keir Starmer embarked on a determined mission to convince Donald Trump that NATO is capable of safeguarding the Arctic without the necessity of a U.S. acquisition of Greenland.
European leaders have thrown their support behind Denmark in an escalating disagreement with the United States, a conflict that poses a significant threat to the unity of the NATO alliance.
In a flurry of diplomatic activity, the Prime Minister engaged in discussions with both the Danish leader and NATO’s head before having a second conversation with the U.S. President in as many days.
According to Downing Street, Sir Keir tried to assure Mr. Trump of Europe’s commitment to Arctic defense. Nonetheless, he acknowledged that additional efforts might be required. The leaders reportedly explored Euro-Atlantic security challenges and concurred on the imperative to counter a more assertive Russia in the High North.
A statement from the Prime Minister’s office highlighted that while European allies have intensified their actions to safeguard Euro-Atlantic interests recently, there remains room for further measures to protect the region.
Amidst this whirlwind of diplomacy, the Prime Minister also conversed with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. She had previously asserted that any military aggression by the U.S. against a fellow NATO member would bring all cooperative actions to a halt.
However, both agreed ‘that NATO should step up in the area to protect Euro-Atlantic interests’. Nato secretary General Mark Rutte agreed with Sir Keir that ‘more needed to be done to deter Russia in the High North’. Both welcomed discussions on how allied countries could ‘further protect the region from increasing Russian threats.’
President Trump’s plan to acquire Greenland, either through purchasing the territory or through military means, has been criticised by political enemies and allies across Europe and in the US.
Keir Starmer launched a frantic bid on Thursday night to persuade Donald Trump that Nato can defend the Arctic without a US takeover of Greenland
Donald Trump’s plan to acquire Greenland, either through purchasing the territory or through military means, has been criticised by political enemies and allies across Europe and in the US
Critics of Mr Trump’s plan have suggested his interest lies in acquiring Greenland’s minerals and rare-earth energy supplies.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has told US politicians that it was the Trump administration’s intention to purchase Greenland rather than use military force.
Donald Trump’s officials will tell Danish counterparts the US President is seeking to buy Greenland – in preference to acquiring the territory by military force.
In crisis talks arranged for next week, White House advisers will seek to use the high-stakes meeting to agree on a peaceful transition for the world’s largest island.
Though self-governing, Greenland remains a Danish territory, though its 57,000 population favour independence from Copenhagen. European leaders, including Keir Starmer, have backed Denmark in their dispute with the US, which threatens to tear the Nato alliance apart. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said if the US chooses to attack another Nato country militarily, then everything stops’.
Such a scenario could even see US and Danish troops facing off – despite the soldiers working alongside each other to protect Greenland until now.
Under Danish military rules enshrined in 1952, the country’s forces would be obliged to respond to any invasion ‘without waiting for or seeking orders’ – in other words, shooting first and asking questions later.
President Trump’s plan to acquire Greenland has been criticised by political enemies and allies both across Europe and in the US.
That is because of the damage Trump’s plans are doing to NATO and because the US could work with allies to strengthen the island’s defences without challenging Denmark’s sovereignty.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has told US politicians that it was the Trump administration’s intention to purchase Greenland rather than use military force
Ahead of the meeting, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio declined to discuss US options for a ‘military intervention’.
He said yesterday: ‘I am not here to talk about Denmark or military intervention. I’ll be meeting with them next week, we’ll have those conversations with them.’
Critics of Trump’s plan have suggested his interest lies in acquiring Greenland’s minerals and rare-earth energy supplies.
Greenland’s government has told Danish public broadcaster DR that Greenland will participate in the meeting between Denmark and the US announced by Mr Rubio.
Mr Rubio also told US politicians that it was the Trump administration’s intention to purchase Greenland rather than use military force.
Sir Keir also ‘reiterated his position’ on Greenland in a call with Denmark’s leader.
A Downing Street spokesman said: ‘Both leaders agreed on the importance of deterring Russian aggression in the High North and that Nato should step up in the area to protect Euro-Atlantic interests.’
It came a day after Sir Keir ‘set out his position on Greenland’ to Mr Trump in a phone call.
And French President Emmanuel Macron has denounced the ‘law of the strongest’ that is making people ‘wonder if Greenland will be invaded’.
