Keir Starmer launched a frantic bid Thursday night to persuade Donald Trump that Nato can defend the Arctic without a US takeover of Greenland.
European leaders have backed Denmark in a dispute with the US, which threatens to tear the Nato alliance apart.
The Prime Minister held calls with the Danish leader and the head of NATO before speaking to the US President for the second time in two days.
Downing Street said Sir Keir had attempted to persuade Mr Trump that Europe was defending the Arctic, but did eventually concede that more could be done. It said the leaders had ‘discussed Euro-Atlantic security and agreed on the need to deter an increasingly aggressive Russia in the High North’.
A statement added: ‘European allies had stepped up in recent months to defend Euro-Atlantic interests, but more could be done to protect the area, the Prime Minister said.’
In a day of intensive diplomacy, the PM spoke to Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, who previously said if the US chooses to attack another Nato country militarily, ‘then everything stops’.
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 Thursday night to persuade Donald Trump that Nato can defend the Arctic without a US takeover of Greenland
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
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’.