(Adnkronos) –
The United Kingdom steps in to appease Donald Trump and ‘save’ Greenland. The President of the United States considers the island, an autonomous territory controlled by Denmark, vital for American national security. “Either we make a deal the good way or we make it the bad way,” Trump said, wanting to move quickly to curb Russia’s and China’s influence in the Arctic. To avoid ‘the bad way’, here is the initiative British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is working on. Downing Street, as reported by the Telegraph, is reportedly negotiating with European allies to send a military force to Greenland that would meet the White House’s need to protect the Arctic.
British officials, in an initiative that would involve NATO allies, have met their counterparts from countries such as Germany and France to begin preparations. The plans, still in their early stages, could involve the deployment of British soldiers, warships, and aircraft to protect Greenland from the ambitions of Moscow and Beijing.
“We share President Trump’s view: Russia’s growing aggression in the Far North must be deterred and Euro-Atlantic security strengthened. NATO discussions on strengthening security in the region continue, and we could never provide previews,” said a British government source. “The UK is working with NATO allies to lead efforts to strengthen deterrence and defense in the Arctic. The UK will continue to collaborate with allies, as it always has, on operations in our national interest, protecting people at home,” the source continued.
With Western sentinels, will Trump be satisfied? Unlikely, considering that for the American president, “Putin doesn’t fear Europe, he fears me.” Washington, on the other hand, does not seem to take into account the version proposed by Nordic country diplomats who, cited by the Financial Times, dispute the Trumpian narrative that Russian and Chinese ships operate near Greenland.
“It is not at all true that the Chinese and Russians are there. I have seen intelligence information. There are no ships, no submarines,” a source said. “The idea that the waters around Greenland are full of Russian and Chinese ships or submarines is not true at all. They are in the Arctic, yes, but on the Russian side,” outlined the other official.
Meanwhile, the United States continues to move independently in search of a diplomatic solution. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen confirms that Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen will meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio next week. “We are at a crossroads,” Frederiksen said during a party conference. In recent days, Rubio had stated his desire to meet Danish representatives soon. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson advocates for Copenhagen’s cause, rejecting the “threatening rhetoric” of the American administration and praising Denmark, a “very loyal” ally of the United States.
In spring, Vice President JD Vance had called Denmark a ‘bad ally’, sparking the anger of those concerned, who recalled having supported the Americans particularly in Iraq and Afghanistan. “The United States should instead thank Denmark, which over the years has been a very loyal ally,” says Kristersson. “Sweden, the Nordic countries, the Baltic States, and several large European countries stand in solidarity with our Danish friends.”
