European leaders have issued a strong joint statement in support of Denmark and its autonomous territory of Greenland, following comments from US President Donald Trump's leading aide that the US may be willing to use force to seize control of the Arctic region.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer of the UK, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz have declared that Greenland "belongs to its people", reiterating their commitment to collective security in the Arctic. The statement was made jointly with the prime ministers of Denmark, Italy, Poland, and Spain.
In a bid to avoid escalating tensions with the US, European leaders shifted focus to making fresh security commitments to Ukraine during an international summit in Paris. However, Starmer made it clear that the UK government's position on Greenland remains unchanged: "I've been very clear as to what my position, the position of the UK government, is."
The statement reflects growing unease among European leaders about the US's intentions regarding Greenland, which has long been a territory of the kingdom of Denmark. The comments from Stephen Miller, Trump's deputy chief of staff for policy, have raised alarm bells in Denmark and prompted an emergency meeting with the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio.
Lord Ricketts, a former UK national security adviser, warned that if the US were to annex Greenland, it would be disastrous for NATO, effectively ending the alliance based on trust. Security relationships between European countries and the US are set to take on greater significance in the wake of this threat.
Meanwhile, Greenland's prime minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen has urged Trump to give up his "fantasies about annexation" and accused the US of using "completely and utterly unacceptable" rhetoric. Greenlanders remain determined to make their own decisions about their territory's future, despite being a former Danish colony.
The US has long had a military base in Greenland, which serves as an important location for its ballistic missile early warning system. In recent years, there has been growing support among Greenlandic people for independence from Denmark, particularly after revelations about the country's treatment of indigenous populations during colonial rule.
In March, Greenland formed a new four-party coalition government, with the first page of the coalition agreement stating: "Greenland belongs to us." The move reflects the territory's desire for greater autonomy and self-determination.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer of the UK, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz have declared that Greenland "belongs to its people", reiterating their commitment to collective security in the Arctic. The statement was made jointly with the prime ministers of Denmark, Italy, Poland, and Spain.
In a bid to avoid escalating tensions with the US, European leaders shifted focus to making fresh security commitments to Ukraine during an international summit in Paris. However, Starmer made it clear that the UK government's position on Greenland remains unchanged: "I've been very clear as to what my position, the position of the UK government, is."
The statement reflects growing unease among European leaders about the US's intentions regarding Greenland, which has long been a territory of the kingdom of Denmark. The comments from Stephen Miller, Trump's deputy chief of staff for policy, have raised alarm bells in Denmark and prompted an emergency meeting with the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio.
Lord Ricketts, a former UK national security adviser, warned that if the US were to annex Greenland, it would be disastrous for NATO, effectively ending the alliance based on trust. Security relationships between European countries and the US are set to take on greater significance in the wake of this threat.
Meanwhile, Greenland's prime minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen has urged Trump to give up his "fantasies about annexation" and accused the US of using "completely and utterly unacceptable" rhetoric. Greenlanders remain determined to make their own decisions about their territory's future, despite being a former Danish colony.
The US has long had a military base in Greenland, which serves as an important location for its ballistic missile early warning system. In recent years, there has been growing support among Greenlandic people for independence from Denmark, particularly after revelations about the country's treatment of indigenous populations during colonial rule.
In March, Greenland formed a new four-party coalition government, with the first page of the coalition agreement stating: "Greenland belongs to us." The move reflects the territory's desire for greater autonomy and self-determination.