Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander claimed ‘business as usual discussions’ are ongoing about security in the Arctic amid reports a NATO mission to the island is being planned as an alternative to a US invasion
A minister has refused to rule out putting boots on the ground in Greenland.
The Government is reportedly in talks with allies about a possible NATO mission on the island to guard against Russian aggression. Such a move would be an alternative to Donald Trump invading the Danish territory – which the UK says it would oppose.
According to The Telegraph, military chiefs are drawing up plans for an operation in Greenland. Mr Trump has sounded the alarm that Russia or China could seize the territory if the US does not act.
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Speaking on Sky News, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander told host Sir Trevor Phillips: “I saw the reports on the front page of the Telegraph this morning Trevor, and I think that perhaps some of your journalistic colleagues reading something into business as usual discussions amongst NATO allies about how we deter Putin in the Arctic Circle.”
She said the High North has become and “increasingly contested” region with Russia and China, and stated: “You would expect us to be talking to all our allies in NATO about what we can do to deter Russian aggression in the Arctic Circle.”
She said: “And of course, you know well that we’re a leading member in the Joint Expeditionary Force, which is a coalition of ten like-minded nations who see defence and deterrence in the Arctic Circle, in the high sea, as of being paramount importance.”
Sir Trevor observed: “OK, so what I take from that is that it is possible, but this is business as usual.” It comes after a Government source told The Telegraph: “We share president Trump’s view – Russia’s growing aggression in the High North must be deterred, and EuroAtlantic security strengthened.
“NATO discussions on reinforcing security in the region continue, and we would never get ahead of those, but the UK is working with Nato allies to drive efforts to bolster Arctic deterrence and defence. The UK will continue to work with allies – as we always have – on operations in our national interest, protecting people back at home.”
Trump has repeatedly indicated he is willing to take Greenland by force, saying it is needed for US national security. Mr Starmer and European leaders have voiced their opposition to this, saying it is for the people of Denmark and Greenland to decide the island’s future.
The US has also floated the idea of purchasing Greenland from Denmark. Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, is set to meet his Danish counterpart next week. But it is thought that ramping up the European presence there could be presented as a win by the Trump regime and discourage it from taking more extreme action at a time of heightened tensions.
Denmark last week warned that an invasion by the United States would tear the NATO alliance apart.