British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has issued a sharp warning to Donald Trump amid rising fears the US president may be eyeing a military move to take control of Greenland.
The 63-year-old spoke to reporters on Monday (January 5) morning and threw his support behind Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, who has rejected Trump's renewed efforts to claim the vast Arctic island for the United States.
“I stand with her, and she's right about the future of Greenland,” Starmer said, cited by The Mirror. “Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark are to decide the future of Greenland, and only Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark.”
The PM added: “Denmark is a close ally in Europe, it is a NATO ally, and it's very important the future of Greenland is, as I say, for the Kingdom of Denmark, and for Greenland, and only for Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark.”
The comments come just days after a U.S. military operation in Venezuela saw the capture of President Nicolás Maduro, sparking fears that the 79-year-old, who said the US would now “run” Venezuela, may try to use similar force to secure control over Greenland.
Trump says Greenland is “strategic”
Trump reignited the controversy over the Danish territory last weekend, claiming the island is crawling with Russian and Chinese ships and is essential for U.S. national security.
“It’s so strategic right now,” he said.
“Greenland is covered with Russian and Chinese ships all over the place. We need Greenland from the standpoint of national security, and Denmark is not going to be able to do it.”
Asked whether the U.S. operation in Venezuela was a preview of what could happen in Greenland, Trump responded: “They are going to have to view it themselves. I really don’t know.”
The comments added fuel to ongoing tensions after Trump’s long-standing interest in acquiring Greenland resurfaced.
In a statement, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said Trump has “no right to annex” the island and warned him to “stop threatening a historically close ally.”
Denmark already provides the U.S. with broad access to Greenland under existing NATO security agreements, but Frederiksen warned: “I would therefore strongly urge the U.S. to stop threatening a historically close ally and another country and people who have made it very clear that they are not for sale.”
Greenland calls the annexation push a "fantasy"
Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens Frederik Nielsen called Trump’s renewed annexation efforts a “fantasy," per BBC News.
“No more pressure. No more insinuations. No more fantasies of annexation. We are open to dialogue. We are open to discussions. But this must happen through the proper channels and with respect for international law," he added.
The tensions escalated further after Katie Miller, wife of former Trump adviser Stephen Miller, posted an image of Greenland photoshopped with the American flag and the word “SOON.”
The Danish ambassador to the U.S. responded with a “friendly reminder” that Denmark expects respect for its territorial integrity.
UK government under pressure to speak out
Starmer’s stance stands in contrast to comments from Home Office minister Mike Tapp, who appeared reluctant to oppose a potential U.S. intervention during an interview on Sky News.
Pressed repeatedly, Tapp said: “When it comes to Greenland, Denmark and the United States, these are both NATO members... I can't see this being any different to any previous conversations that need to be had between NATO members.”
Sky News host Sophy Ridge responded: “I find it extraordinary that you can't just say flat out that Donald Trump needs to not intervene on Greenland.”
Tapp deflected again, saying it was a matter for NATO: “The Venezuela issue is very different to the Greenland issue, but that's for them to have those discussions... working together with our allies and sticking to international laws is what we stand for as a country.”
Former Defence Secretary Ben Wallace quickly criticized the government’s silence, posting on X: “We must now look to our Danish friends and fellow NATO allies. We must make it very clear to the Trump administration that threats to them is unacceptable. No more weak Government Ministers saying nothing on media rounds.”