Prime Minister Keir Starmer has told the leaders of France and Germany that the NATO alliance must urgently increase its operations in the Arctic, as Western capitals scramble to prevent a major rift sparked by Donald Trump's designs on Greenland.
Frenzied Diplomacy to Protect the Alliance
In a day of intense phone diplomacy, Sir Keir held discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. According to a Downing Street readout, the Prime Minister argued that NATO needed to "step up" in the High North region to deter adversaries like Russia and China.
This message followed his second call in just two days with US President Donald Trump, where they discussed Euro-Atlantic security. Number 10 stated that Sir Keir acknowledged European allies had increased their efforts recently but insisted "more could be done" to protect the Arctic area from an increasingly aggressive Russia.
The Greenland Dispute Threatening NATO Unity
The flurry of calls comes amid a brewing international crisis over former President Trump's repeated interest in acquiring Greenland, the world's largest island. Though self-governing, Greenland remains a territory of Denmark, and European leaders have firmly backed Copenhagen in the dispute.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, who also spoke with Sir Keir, has previously warned that if the US militarily attacked another NATO country, "then everything stops" for the alliance. Such a scenario over Greenland could pit US and Danish troops against each other, despite their longstanding cooperation.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has told politicians the Trump administration's intention is to purchase Greenland, not use military force. Crisis talks between White House advisers and Denmark are scheduled for next week, with Greenland's government confirming it will participate.
Underlying Motives and Immediate Reactions
Critics on both sides of the Atlantic suggest Trump's primary interest lies in Greenland's vast mineral and rare-earth energy supplies. The potential for conflict has alarmed allies, with President Macron denouncing the "law of the strongest" that is making people "wonder if Greenland will be invaded".
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte agreed with Sir Keir's assessment that more action was needed to deter Russia in the Arctic. The Prime Minister's concerted diplomatic push underscores the serious concern that Trump's Greenland ambitions could tear the military alliance apart, forcing a stark choice between transatlantic solidarity and territorial sovereignty.
