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Britain, NATO discuss Arctic security amid Trump’s Greenland remarks
Britain is holding discussions with its NATO allies on strengthening security in the Arctic region to counter growing threats from Russia and China, a senior government minister said on Sunday.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said the talks were routine and not linked to recent comments by US President Donald Trump about taking over Greenland.
Trump has repeatedly said he wants to make a deal to acquire Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of NATO ally Denmark, arguing that the United States needs to prevent Russia or China from gaining control of the strategically located island.
“One way or the other, we're going to have Greenland,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One as he flew back to Washington, adding that securing a deal for the island would be “easier”.
Greenland, home to about 57,000 people, is defended by Denmark, whose military is far smaller than that of the United States. Washington already maintains a military base on the island. Denmark’s prime minister has warned that any takeover would pose a threat to NATO.
Trump dismissed such concerns, saying he supported NATO while questioning whether the alliance would come to America’s aid if needed.
Tensions have risen between Washington and Copenhagen after the Trump administration renewed warnings over Greenland. Denmark’s ambassador to the US, Jesper Møller Sørensen, said only Greenlanders should decide their future and called for continued cooperation among allies to address Arctic security challenges.
Alexander said Britain agrees with Trump that Russia and China are becoming increasingly active in the Arctic region.
“While we have not seen the devastating consequences there that we have seen in Ukraine, it is vital that NATO ensures a strong deterrent in the Arctic,” she told the BBC.
Britain’s former ambassador to the US, Peter Mandelson, said he did not believe Trump would attempt to seize Greenland by force but stressed that the Arctic must be secured against Russian and Chinese influence.
Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey suggested Britain offer to deploy troops to Greenland under a joint command with Denmark, warning that any move to undermine NATO unity would benefit Russian President Vladimir Putin, reports UNB.
It remains unclear how other NATO members would respond if the US attempted to take control of the island by force.