Starmer says he stands with Greenland – as Danish PM warns US attack on territory would end NATO
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Sir Keir Starmer has said Greenland’s future is up to the Danish territory after Donald Trump again suggested the US could take it over.
It comes as Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has said if there’s a US attack on Greenland “then everything stops… including our NATO”.
Mr Trump, speaking the day after the US captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife during strikes on the country on Saturday, said the US does “need Greenland“.
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Speaking to Sky News political editor Beth Rigby, Sir Keir said: “Let me be really clear about Greenland – the future for Greenland is for Greenland, the Kingdom of Denmark.
“Denmark is a close European ally, a close NATO ally. And the future therefore has to be for Greenland, for the Kingdom of Denmark, and only for Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark.”
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said she would “strongly urge the US to stop the threats against a historically close ally”.
Sir Keir added: “I stand with her. She’s right about the future of Greenland.”
In a statement to the House of Commons later, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper reiterated the prime minister’s position, saying: “Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark. Our close European partners, our long-standing NATO allies and all our countries work closely together on security issues, and will always do so.
“The future of Greenland is a matter for the Greenlanders and Danes, and no-one else.”
In comments on Monday afternoon, the Danish prime minister said Mr Trump “should be taken seriously when he says that he wants Greenland”, and said: “If the United States chooses to attack another NATO country militarily, then everything stops.
“That is, including our NATO and thus the security that has been provided since the end of the Second World War.”
Ms Frederiksen called on the US government to “take note of the once again significant European support that we are receiving”.
In contrast with their clear position on Greenland, Sir Keir and his ministers have been reticent to say whether the US broke international law by attacking Venezuela and capturing Maduro.
Earlier, Home Office minister Mike Tapp repeatedly declined to warn Mr Trump against taking military action against Greenland in an interview with Sky News lead politics presenter Sophy Ridge.
He said that both the US and Denmark were NATO members, and that was the forum for discussions to take place.
Greenland was also different to Venezuela, Mr Tapp added, before saying on Mr Trump taking military action that he couldn’t “talk about hypotheticals”.
Mr Trump also said the US would “run” Venezuela until a “proper transition” can take place.
All EU nations apart from Hungary called for international law to be respected over Venezuela on Sunday night, as did Canada and Norway.
UN secretary general Antonio Guterres was quick to come out and condemn the US’s actions, with a UN statement saying Mr Guterres was “deeply concerned that the rules of international law have not been respected”.
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Pressed on why he would not say the same, Sir Keir told Sky News: “I’m going to be clear that I believe in international law. I’ve long been an advocate for international law.
“I’m absolutely clear that this is the framework that applies. Obviously, it’ll be for the US to set out that justification in relation to the action.”
The comment on Monday was slightly stronger than Sir Keir’s initial reaction on Saturday, when he told the BBC he was waiting to establish all the facts but would not “shy away from this”, adding he was a “lifelong advocate of international law”.
