PM Sir Keir Starmer and his Danish counterpart have put on a show of unity over Greenland’s ‘security’ amid Donald Trump’s bid to take control of the Arctic territory.
Mette Frederiksen, Denmark’s PM who met Sir Keir in Downing Street last night, said they had agreed to ‘work closely together’ on ensuring the security of the High North.
This includes ‘Greenland and the Arctic region in general’, Ms Frederiksen added.
Her talks with Sir Keir came after Mr Trump last month said he believes the US will gain control of Greenland, which is an autonomous Danish territory.
He wants to acquire the world’s largest island for ‘national security’ reasons and has refused to rule out using military or economic force in order to take over the territory.
The US President was reported to have recently confirmed his intent to seize control of Greenland during a fiery 45-minute phone call with Ms Frederiksen.
She was said to have told Mr Trump the territory is ‘not for sale’ despite noting America’s ‘big interest’ in it.
Since returning to the White House, the US President has also talked about portentially taking over the Panama Canal, Canada and the Gaza Strip.
PM Sir Keir Starmer and his Danish counterpart have put on a show of unity over Greenland’s ‘security’ amid Donald Trump’s bid to take control of the Arctic territory
Mette Frederiksen, Denmark’s PM who met Sir Keir in Downing Street last night, said they had agreed to ‘work closely together’ on ensuring the security of the High North
Her talks with Sir Keir came after Mr Trump last month said he believes the US will gain control of Greenland, which is an autonomous Danish territory
Speaking outside No10 after her meeting with Sir Keir last night, Ms Frederiksen said they had agreed to ‘work closely together’ on ensuring the security of the High North.
Asked whether she had received assurances of British support in Denmarks’ dispute with the US over Greenland, she added: ‘We had a very good meeting.
‘I consider UK as one of our biggest and most important allies, and he is a close friend and colleague to me and to Denmark.
‘We have agreed tonight that we will work closely together on the Arctic region and the need for ensuring the security environment in what we call the High North, including Greenland and the Arctic region in general.
‘So it was a very good meeting, and not only looking at the Arctic region, we have agreed to work closer together on defence and deterrence and on the different security issues that are surrounding us in these years.’
The US President was reported to have recently confirmed his intent to seize control of Greenland during a fiery 45-minute phone call with Ms Frederiksen
Sir Keir and Ms Frederiksen also discussed the PM’s push to ‘reset’ Britain’s post-Brexit relations with the EU, as well European security, the Ukraine war, and migration, No10 said.
In a readout of Sir Keir’s discussions with Ms Frederiksen, No10 made no specific mention of Greenland.
But Downing Street said the two leaders agreed to ‘step up joint cooperation to address threats’ faced in the High North region.
Sir Keir also welcomed a new military package announced by Denmark to defend the Arctic from ‘hostile activity’, according to a spokesperson.
It comes after the Nordic country said it would spend 14.6billion kroner (£1.6billion) to boost security in the region.
The No10 spokesperson said: ‘Turning to security in the High North and Arctic region, the PM paid tribute to the important role Denmark was playing and welcomed their recent announcement of a new military package to defend the Arctic from hostile activity.
‘Both leaders agreed to step up joint cooperation to address threats in the Arctic and High North, working with allies through NATO and JEF (Joint Expeditionary Force) partners.’
Sir Keir and Ms Frederiksen also discussed the PM’s push to ‘reset’ Britain’s post-Brexit relations with the EU, as well European security, the Ukraine war, and migration, No10 said.
