Trump warned by Keir Starmer as EU leaders say ‘Greenland belongs to its individuals’
Keir Starmer and European leaders have issued a firm hands off warning to Donald Trump over Greenland.
The US President has sparked panic after saying he is “very serious” about taking over the Danish territory. In a statement the PM, alongside counterparts from France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Denmark and Poland said: “Greenland belongs to its people.
“It is for Denmark and Greenland, and only them, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland.” Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has warned that a US invasion would lead to the NATO defence bloc collapsing.
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BBC/AFP via Getty Images)
The US President has sparked a diplomatic crisis by publicly stating his designs on the territory, just days after US commandos seized the President of Venezuela. On Monday evening Trump told NBC News: “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.”
The joint statement signed by the PM states that security in the Arctic has to be maintained by upholding the principles of the UN Charter – which includes “sovereignty, territorial integrity and the inviolability of borders”.
It continues: “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.”
Both Denmark and Greenland have pushed back on Trump’s remarks. Ms Frederiksen said on Monday: “If the United States chooses to attack another NATO country militarily, then everything stops.
“That is, including our NATO and thus the security that has been provided since the end of the Second World War.”
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Mr Starmer said Ms Frederiksen was “right” to refuse the US President any claim to the territory. He said: “Well, I stand with her, and she’s right about the future of Greenland.”
The PM continued: “Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark are to decide the future of Greenland, and only Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark. 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.”
