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Donald Trump has been urged not to destabilise NATO by invading Greenland after saying he is ‘very serious’ about taking control of the Danish territory, sparking a diplomatic crisis
Donald Trump has been urged not to destabilise NATO by striking Greenland amid fears he could tear the bloc apart.
The US President said on Monday night he is “very serious” in his intent to seize control of the Danish territory – which he says the US needs for national security. This afternoon Keir Starmer will meet European leaders and US officials in Paris as he treads a tightrope amid growing international alarm.
Experts fear that annexing Greenland would destroy NATO – of which the US and Denmark are members. The UK government says Denmark and Greenland must determine the territory’s future – and both have called on Trump to back off.
READ MORE: Labour’s stance on Shamima Begum legal challenge spelled out in update by Shabana MahmoodREAD MORE: Keir Starmer issues Greenland warning to Donald Trump amid invasion fears
Mr Starmer has been criticised for not confronting Trump over the US strike on Venezuela – which saw President Nicolás Maduro captured on Saturday. Health Secretary Wes Streeting defended his boss, telling BBC Breakfast: “There are commentators out there who may say things more stridently or more vocally or more publicly than the Prime Minister.
“That’s not the Prime Minister’s job. He’s not a commentator. He’s a world leader, and he seeks to use his influence and use his leverage both for our national security and national economic interests, but also for our collective security. And that is the right and responsible thing to do.”
Mr Streeting told Sky News that Mr Starmer is “careful” in his words. Referring to the growing diplomatic row around Greenland, the Cabinet member said there is no need for Trump to take it over.
Mr Streeting said: “The UK and the NATO members are doubling down on support for Greenland, their right to self-determination, their place as part of the Kingdom of Denmark and the role that they are already playing as part of the NATO alliance. The good news for President Trump is that Greenland is already part of the team, and is playing its part in defending our national security as the UK and our collective security.”
And he went on: “This is not the time to destabilise NATO and to undermine our collective security.”
On Monday evening the US President told NBC News: “I think that Greenland is very important for the national security of the United States, Europe, and other parts of the free world.”
Quizzed about the UK’s relationship with the White House, the Health Secretary said: “We’re really clear with the United States about where we stand on Greenland and what you’ve seen from the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary, not just in relation to the fast moving events in Venezuela, but more generally when it comes to our relationship with the United States – the Prime Minister chooses what to say, how to say it, and when to say it very carefully.”
Several Labour MPs – including Dame Emily Thornberry, who chairs the Foreign Affairs Select Committee – have criticised the PM for not being firmer with the US President. Mr Streeting said: “What the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary are doing is choosing their words carefully and choosing their timing carefully because they’re trying to influence situation. That’s the nature of diplomacy.”
Reminded by Sky host Sophy Ridge that he had once described Trump as an “odeous sad little man”, Mr Streeting said: “I am in the cabinet and I’m part of the team and I’m not going to make comments that make the job of the Prime Minister, the Foreign Secretary, any harder than they are against the backdrop of what is a fast moving and turbulent situation.
“What I can say is obviously a number of us in government have criticised President Trump in the past, and both President Trump and the Prime Minister have been very clear, they are not natural political allies. They don’t come from the same political tradition.
“They have very different styles, have very different characters. But the Prime Minister has worked through with President Trump to build a relationship.”
The PM will meet world leaders in Paris at a coalition of the willing meeting on Ukraine. During his brief visit he is expected to face questions about the unfolding diplomatic crisis.
