Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has publicly backed the Danish Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, after she demanded that the United States stop threatening to annex Greenland. Speaking to broadcasters, Starmer said he stood with Frederiksen and that the future of Greenland should be decided only by Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark.
Starmer's comments came after Mike Tapp, the migration minister, repeatedly dodged questions about the US threats. Starmer told Sky News: “I stand with her, and she’s right about the future of Greenland.” When asked by the BBC if he agreed with Danish calls for President Donald Trump to stop raising the idea of annexation, Starmer replied: “Yes.”
The dispute follows Trump's repeated statements that the US needs Greenland for national security, claiming Denmark cannot handle it. Tensions escalated after a right-wing podcaster posted a map of Greenland draped in the US flag with the caption “SOON.” Frederiksen stated that the US has no right to annex any part of the Danish kingdom, which also includes the Faroe Islands.
Greenland's Prime Minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, called the podcaster's comments “disrespectful” and said: “Threats, pressure and talk of annexation have no place between friends.” He added that Greenland is open to dialogue but only through proper channels and in line with international law.
