Sir Keir Starmer expressed his views on Greenland in a recent conversation with former US President Donald Trump, as confirmed by Downing Street. There have been suggestions from US officials about the potential use of military force to gain control of Greenland, a semi-autonomous Danish territory that President Trump deems crucial for national security. The details of Sir Keir’s statements were not disclosed by Downing Street.
The UK Prime Minister has consistently emphasized that the fate of Greenland should be determined solely by Greenland and Denmark, reiterating this stance in the House of Commons earlier in the day. The dispute over Greenland has strained relations between the US and Europe, with Denmark’s prime minister cautioning that a US takeover could jeopardize NATO.
During their call, in addition to discussing the seizure of the oil tanker Marinera, ongoing negotiations concerning Ukraine, and US military involvement in Venezuela, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio mentioned that President Trump was contemplating the acquisition of Greenland, with the option of using force still on the table.
In an article for the Spectator, Lord Peter Mandelson, who was dismissed as the US ambassador last year due to connections with Jeffrey Epstein, criticized European countries for overreacting to the Greenland situation, attributing it to their diminishing geopolitical influence. Mandelson downplayed concerns about Greenland’s sovereignty and NATO involvement, asserting that Trump would not invade Greenland and advocating for an increased American presence in the region to counter Russia and China.
Sir Keir’s conversation with Trump occurred as Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy gets ready to meet US Vice-President JD Vance. Greenland is expected to be a focal point of their discussions, coinciding with the commemoration of America’s independence from Britain. Lammy and Vance, who have a longstanding friendship, previously spent time together at Chevening.
This call marked the first interaction between Starmer and Trump since US special forces apprehended Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and transported him to New York over the weekend.
