LONDON — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Monday that he does not believe U.S. President Donald Trump would use military force to seize Greenland, as tensions rise over Trump’s push to bring the Arctic territory under greater U.S. influence.
In a press briefing at Downing Street, Starmer played down fears that Trump’s rhetoric about Greenland could escalate into armed conflict, saying such issues should be resolved through calm diplomatic discussion, not aggression. “I don’t think he is prepared to use military force,” Starmer said, emphasizing that the future of Greenland should be decided by Greenlanders and Denmark, the territory’s sovereign state.
Context of Trump’s Greenland Comments
Trump has repeatedly expressed interest in acquiring or otherwise gaining control over Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, citing strategic security concerns, including alleged Russian and Chinese activity in the Arctic. At times, he refused to rule out military options when discussing how the United States might secure Greenland in the future – comments that have alarmed NATO allies and sparked international responses.
European leaders have been outspoken. Denmark’s prime minister warned that any U.S. military action against Greenland could spell the end of NATO, while other officials have rallied around Denmark’s sovereignty over the territory.
Starmer’s Position and Diplomatic Tone
Starmer’s comments come amid a broader transatlantic row that includes U.S. threats of tariffs on European allies if they oppose American ambitions in Greenland. Starmer called these tariff threats “completely wrong” and warned that a trade war would harm economic partners on both sides of the Atlantic.
While Starmer has pushed back against coercive measures, he has also maintained that the U.K. values its special relationship with the United States, particularly on security cooperation and NATO partnerships. He has emphasized that disputes like the Greenland matter are best addressed through diplomacy and negotiation, not confrontation.
Starmer’s stance aligns with broader European concern that military force should be off the table and that any discussions about Greenland’s future must respect international law and sovereign rights. He reaffirmed that Denmark and Greenland — not outside powers — should determine the territory’s path.
