Around 57,000 people live in Greenland,including in the capital Nuuk (Picture: Odd Andersen/AFP via Getty Images)
Keir Starmer has said Greenland ‘belongs to its people’ in a rebuke to Donald Trump,after the US President ramped up his threats to take control of the island.
European leaders have grown increasingly alarmed by the potential for a US military takeover of the Danish territory since the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro at the weekend.
In an interview with CNN last night,White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller said: ‘Nobody’s gonna fight the United States militarily over the future of Greenland.’
The Prime Minister added his name to a joint statement issued this morning by leaders also including French President Emmanuel Macron,German Chancellor Friedrich Merz,and Danish PM Mette Frederiksen.
It highlighted the role of Nato,which counts both Denmark and the US among its members,in Arctic security and says this must be upheld through ‘upholding the principles of the UN Charter’.
These include ‘sovereignty,territorial integrity and the inviolability of borders’,the statement says.
Read the full joint statement on Greenland
Statement by President Macron of France,Chancellor Merz of Germany,Prime Minister Meloni of Italy,Prime Minister Tusk of Poland,Prime Minister Sánchez of Spain,Prime Minister Starmer of the United Kingdom and Prime Minister Frederiksen of Denmark on Greenland.
Arctic security remains a key priority for Europe and it is critical for international and transatlantic security.
NATO has made clear that the Arctic region is a priority and European Allies are stepping up. We and many other Allies have increased our presence,activities and investments,to keep the Arctic safe and to deter adversaries. The Kingdom of Denmark – including Greenland – is part of NATO.
Security in the Arctic must therefore be achieved collectively,in conjunction with NATO allies including the United States,by upholding the principles of the UN Charter,including sovereignty,territorial integrity and the inviolability of borders. These are universal principles,and we will not stop defending them.
The United States is an essential partner in this endeavour,as a NATO ally and through the defence agreement between the Kingdom of Denmark and the United States of 1951.
Greenland belongs to its people. It is for Denmark and Greenland,to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland.
Today’s joint statement was issued as leaders meet in Paris to discuss the future of the war in Ukraine with figures from the Trump administration.
Responding to the leaders’ message,Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said: ‘This support is important in a situation where very basic international principles are being challenged. I want to express my deepest gratitude for the support.’
He continued: ‘Once again,I urge the United States to seek respectful dialogue through the correct diplomatic and political channels and utilizing pre-existing forums that are based on agreements already in place with the United States.
‘The dialogue must take place with respect to the fact that Greenland’s status is rooted in international law and the principle of territorial integrity.’
Keir Starmer meeting Emmanuel Macron in Paris today (Picture: Tom Nicholson/Getty Images)
The US President himself has said he is ‘very serious’ about taking over the world’s largest island despite the protests of his allies.
Speaking to NBC News yesterday evening,Trump said: ‘We need Greenland for national security,and that includes Europe. You know I’m very loyal to Europe. We need it for national security,right now.
‘I think that Greenland is very important for the national security of the United States,Europe,and other parts of the free world.’
Miller,one of Trump’s top advisors since his first term,also questioned Denmark’s claim over the island in his CNN interview,asking: ‘What is their basis of having Greenland as a colony of Denmark?
‘The United States is the power of Nato. For the United States to secure the Arctic region,to protect and defend Nato and Nato interests,obviously,Greenland should be part of the United States,and so that’s a conversation that we’re going to have as a country.’
Greenland is currently run autonomously by its own government but has been controlled by Denmark for centuries.
A poll last year found 56% of Greenlanders would vote for independence in a referendum,but 85% did not want to leave Denmark to become part of the US.
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