UK pledges Arctic security role, affirms Greenland's future is with Denmark

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has declared the United Kingdom's readiness to support security in the Arctic region in coordination with NATO, while firmly backing Danish sovereignty over Greenland. The statement comes amid heightened tensions following renewed claims on the territory by former U.S. President Donald Trump.

A firm stance on sovereignty and security

During a telephone conversation with European Council President Antonio Costa late Tuesday, Prime Minister Starmer reiterated a clear position. A readout from his office stated, "He reiterated that the UK is prepared to play its part to protect Arctic security, alongside NATO." Crucially, Starmer affirmed that "the future of Greenland belongs to the people of Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark alone." The two leaders agreed on the critical need for continued defense cooperation in what they described as volatile times.

Context of Trump's renewed Greenland push

The high-level discussion was directly prompted by recent controversial statements from former U.S. President Donald Trump. Trump has repeatedly expressed a desire to acquire the vast, resource-rich Arctic island, citing strategic competition with Russia and China. This week, he refused to rule out the use of force to achieve this and used social media to promote the idea, actions that have been uniformly rejected by the governments in Copenhagen and Nuuk, Greenland's capital.

European military responses and alliance concerns

In response to the escalating situation and broader Arctic militarization, several European nations, including Denmark, France, Sweden, and Germany, have already increased their military activities around Greenland through exercises and reconnaissance. Analysts warn that Trump's unilateral campaign threatens to create deep fissures within the Western alliance, arguing that existing defense treaties already grant the U.S. a substantial military footprint on the island, making a forcible takeover unnecessary and destabilizing.