Keir Starmer launches frantic bid to calm crisis over Greenland by trying to persuade Trump that NATO can defend Arctic without US takeover

Keir Starmer launched a mad bid to convince Donald Trump on Thursday night that NATO could defend the Arctic without the US seizing Greenland.

European leaders have backed Denmark in a dispute with the United States that threatens to tear the NATO alliance apart.

The Prime Minister held talks with the Danish leader and NATO chief before meeting the US President for the second time in two days.

Downing Street said Sir Keir tried to convince Mr Trump that Europe was protecting the Arctic but eventually conceded more could be done. In the statement, it was stated that the leaders ‘discussed Euro-Atlantic security and agreed on the necessity of deterring Russia, which is becoming increasingly aggressive in the High North’.

The statement added: ‘The Prime Minister said European allies had taken action to defend Euro-Atlantic interests in recent months but more could be done to protect the region.’

On a day of intense diplomacy, the Prime Minister spoke to Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, who had previously said that if the US chose to attack another NATO country militarily, ‘everything would come to a halt’.

However, both agreed that ‘NATO should take steps in the region to protect Euro-Atlantic interests’. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte agreed with Sir Keir that ‘more must be done to deter Russia in the Upper North’. Both welcomed discussions on how allied countries could ‘further protect the region from growing Russian threats’.

President Trump’s plan to seize Greenland, either by purchasing the territory or through military means, has been criticized by political foes and allies in Europe and the United States.

Donald Trump’s plan to seize Greenland, either by purchase or by military means, has been criticized by political foes and allies in Europe and the United States.

Critics of Mr. Trump’s plan have suggested his interest lies in buying Greenland’s mines and rare earth energy resources.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told US politicians that the Trump administration’s goal is to buy Greenland rather than use military force.

Donald Trump’s officials will tell their Danish counterparts that the US President plans to buy Greenland rather than seize it by military force.

At crisis talks scheduled for next week, White House advisers will try to use the high-stakes meeting to agree on a peaceful transition for the world’s largest island.

Although self-governing, Greenland remains Danish territory, but its 57,000 inhabitants support independence from Copenhagen. European leaders including Keir Starmer have backed Denmark in its dispute with the United States, which is threatening to tear the NATO alliance apart. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said everything would stop if the United States chose to attack another NATO country militarily.

Such a scenario could even lead to a confrontation between US and Danish troops, despite soldiers who have so far worked side by side to protect Greenland.

Under Danish military rules that came into force in 1952, the country’s forces would have to respond to any invasion “without waiting or seeking orders”, that is, by shooting first and asking questions later.

President Trump’s plan to purchase Greenland has been criticized by political foes and allies in both Europe and the United States.

This is because of the damage Trump’s plans do to NATO and the ability of the United States to work with its allies to strengthen the island’s defenses without challenging Denmark’s sovereignty.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told US politicians that the Trump administration’s goal is to buy Greenland rather than use military force

Before the meeting, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio refused to discuss US ‘military intervention’ options.

Yesterday he said: ‘I’m not here to talk about Denmark or military intervention. ‘I will meet with them next week, we will have these conversations with them.’

Critics of Trump’s plan have suggested that his interest lies in buying Greenland’s mines and rare earth energy resources.

Greenland’s government told Danish public broadcaster DR that Greenland will participate in the meeting between Denmark and the United States announced by Mr. Rubio.

Mr. Rubio also told US politicians that the Trump administration’s goal was to acquire Greenland rather than use military force.

Sir Keir also ‘reiterated his position’ on Greenland in his meeting with the Danish leader.

A Downing Street spokesman said: ‘Both leaders agreed on the importance of deterring Russian aggression in the High North and the need for NATO to take action in the region to protect Euro-Atlantic interests.’

It came a day after Sir Keir ‘explained his position on Greenland’ to Mr Trump in a phone call.

French President Emmanuel Macron also condemned the ‘law of the strongest’, which makes people ‘wonder whether Greenland will be invaded’.