“Greenland’s Future Should Be Decided by Its People”: Starmer Backs Denmark Amid Trump’s Renewed Threats
In a rapidly escalating diplomatic dispute, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has publicly thrown his support behind Denmark and Greenland in response to renewed statements from U.S. President Donald Trump suggesting that the United States could seek control over Greenland — an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. The Guardian+1
Trump’s comments, made in the wake of a controversial U.S. military intervention in Venezuela, reiterate his long-expressed interest in Greenland for “national security” reasons. Over the weekend, the president stated that the United States “needs Greenland,” fueling concerns among European leaders that the Arctic territory could become the next target of American strategic ambitions. Anadolu Ajansı
Starmer’s Response
Speaking to British and European media, Prime Minister Starmer said he stands firmly with Denmark’s leadership and the people of Greenland. He emphasized that “the future of Greenland is for Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark to decide,” and stressed the importance of respecting international law and sovereign self-determination. Anadolu Ajansı
In comments to Sky News, Starmer reiterated that Denmark is a “close European and NATO ally,” and its territorial integrity should not be subject to external pressure or unilateral decision-making by another power. Sky News
European Outrage and Solidarity
Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has forcefully rejected the notion that the U.S. has any right to annex Greenland, warning that a hypothetical attack on the territory would undermine the very foundations of the NATO alliance established after World War II. Other European nations — including Norway, Sweden, Finland and France — have echoed Denmark’s stance, underscoring that sovereign borders cannot be changed by force. People's Daily+1
Meanwhile, Greenland’s own leadership has pushed back against American rhetoric, with Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen declaring that “enough is enough” and reaffirming that Greenland’s future should be determined through proper diplomatic channels and mutual respect, not coercion. TIME
The Broader Geopolitical Stakes
Experts say the heated exchange highlights growing geopolitical tension over the Arctic, a region rich in untapped resources and strategic military value as ice melts open new routes and global powers jockey for influence. Trump’s focus on Greenland — first raised publicly during his 2019 presidency and now resurfacing — has rattled allies unaccustomed to such direct calls for territorial acquisition from within the Western alliance. The Atlantic
What Comes Next?
For now, European leaders, including Starmer, Frederiksen, and other Nordic officials, appear united in calling for respect for international law and peaceful cooperation. Whether the dispute will have lasting effects on NATO cohesion, transatlantic relations, or Arctic diplomacy remains uncertain — but for now, Greenland’s fate is firmly being defended on the world stage. People's Daily