Britain supports Denmark in the Greenland crisis against Trump's ambitions
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced his country's support for the Kingdom of Denmark and the government of Greenland, following renewed controversial statements by US President Donald Trump regarding the United States' desire to annex Greenland. In a press statement on Monday, Starmer affirmed London's full support for Copenhagen, emphasizing that the island's future is an internal matter for its inhabitants and the Kingdom of Denmark alone.
firm British stance
Referring directly to Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Starmer said, "I stand with her, and she is absolutely right about Greenland's future." He further clarified the British position, which respects the national sovereignty of allied nations: "Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark will decide Greenland's future; only Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark have that right." These statements are intended to strengthen the European front against American ambitions, which some have viewed as a breach of diplomatic norms between allies.
Angry reactions from Denmark and Greenland
Starmer's remarks came as direct support after Frederiksen called on the United States to stop "threatening its historic ally," following Trump's statement that America "needs" the island. For his part, Jens-Fredrik Nielsen, a Greenlandic government official, responded sharply to the renewed threats, saying, "Enough is enough." He continued, condemning the rhetoric: "The current and repeated discourse from the United States is completely unacceptable. When the US president talks about needing Greenland and links us to Venezuela and military intervention, it is not only wrong, but also disrespectful to our sovereignty and our people.".
Historical background of American ambitions
The United States' desire to control Greenland is not new. In 1946, President Harry Truman offered Denmark $100 million in gold to buy the island, but the offer was rejected. The debate resurfaced in 2019 during Trump's first term when he canceled a planned visit to Denmark after the prime minister refused to discuss the idea of selling the island, calling it "absurd." The island's strategic importance stems from its hosting of Thule Air Force Base (now Petavik Space Base), the northernmost US military base, which plays a vital role in the ballistic missile early warning system and space surveillance.
Geopolitical and economic importance
Greenland is gaining increasing importance in international politics not only because of its strategic location in the Arctic, but also because of its vast natural resources. As the ice melts due to climate change, the island's natural resources are becoming more easily extractable. It is believed to hold enormous reserves of rare earth minerals essential for modern technology industries, as well as oil and gas. This reality makes the island a focus of attention for major powers, with the United States seeking to bolster its influence in the Arctic to counter the growing Russian and Chinese presence in the region. This explains the repeated American insistence on incorporating the island into its direct sphere of influence.
