British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced his country's unequivocal support for the Kingdom of Denmark following renewed controversial statements by US President Donald Trump, in which he reiterated his desire to annex Greenland to the United States. This British support underscores the strength of the European alliance and respect for national sovereignty in the face of proposals deemed unacceptable by officials in Copenhagen and Nuuk (the capital of Greenland).
Starmer: The future is decided only by Greenland and Denmark
In a press statement on Monday, Starmer, referring to Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, said, "I stand with her completely, and she is right about Greenland's future." Starmer added, emphasizing the principle of self-determination, "Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark will decide the island's future; only Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark have that right," thus closing the door on any speculation about foreign deals affecting Danish territorial sovereignty.
Angry reactions and rejection of comparisons to Venezuela
The response from the Danish and Greenlandic sides was swift; Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen urged the United States to stop "threatening its historic ally" after Trump stated that his country "needs" the island.
For his part, Greenland's Prime Minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, responded more sharply, commenting on the renewed threats by saying, "Enough is enough." Nielsen expressed his deep displeasure with the American rhetoric, adding, "The current and repeated rhetoric from the United States is completely unacceptable. When the US president speaks of needing Greenland and links us to Venezuela and military intervention, this is not only wrong, but also disrespectful to our people and our sovereignty.".
Historical background: This is not the first time
It is worth noting that the United States' interest in annexing Greenland is not a recent development, nor is it limited to the Trump era. In 1946, US President Harry Truman offered Denmark $100 million in gold to purchase the island, given its important geopolitical location, but the offer was rejected. Trump revived this idea in 2019, describing it as a "great real estate deal," which caused a diplomatic crisis that led to the cancellation of an official visit to Denmark after Frederiksen described the idea as "ridiculous.".
The strategic and geopolitical importance of the island
Greenland, the world's largest island not considered a continent, holds paramount strategic importance for the United States and NATO. It is home to Thule Air Base, the northernmost U.S. military base, which plays a vital role in ballistic missile early warning and space surveillance.
Moreover, with the melting of Arctic ice due to climate change, the Arctic has become a focal point for major powers (including China and Russia) because of its vast untapped natural resources, such as rare earth minerals, oil, and gas, as well as the potential for opening new shipping lanes. Observers believe that Trump's insistence reflects Washington's desire to strengthen its dominance in the Arctic region in the face of escalating international competition, but this transactional approach clashes with European national sovereignty values.
