An official from the UK has declined to dismiss the possibility of deploying British troops to Greenland in response to escalating concerns related to Donald Trump.
There are calls for Keir Starmer to authorize the deployment of military personnel to the region as part of a NATO initiative aimed at addressing increasing threats from Russia and China in the Arctic region. The US President has hinted at intentions to take control of the Danish territory on grounds of national security, a move that the UK government opposes.
Reports suggest that plans are being formulated for a NATO mission to safeguard the area. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander highlighted the escalating tensions in the region, stating, “It is expected that we engage with our NATO allies to discuss measures to deter Russian aggression in the Arctic Circle.”
While she indicated that the reports on military strategies were premature, she did not entirely dismiss the possibility. Alexander emphasized the UK’s existing involvement in the region, noting, “We are already actively participating in the Arctic region as a prominent member of the Joint Expeditionary Force, a coalition of ten nations united in viewing defense and deterrence in the Arctic Circle as critical.”
President Trump has suggested a potential acquisition of Greenland by the US, but also hinted at a more forceful approach if necessary. Denmark has cautioned that an invasion would fracture the NATO alliance, with Starmer and other European leaders urging Trump to rule out such actions.
Recently, there have been calls for British troops to be deployed to Greenland to protect the region from potential threats posed by Russian forces. The UK Liberal Democrat leader, Sir Ed Davey, stated, “The UK should offer to deploy troops to Greenland as part of a joint NATO operation led by Denmark and the UK.
“If Trump is genuinely concerned about security, he should cooperate and refrain from making provocative statements. Disrupting the NATO alliance would only serve the interests of Putin.”
The UK’s National Security Strategy has identified the region as a new area of strategic competition, facing challenges from major powers like Russia and China. NATO discussions on bolstering security in the region are ongoing, with the UK collaborating closely with its allies.
Last year, UK Commandos participated in Exercise Joint Viking in Norway, one of NATO’s significant drills in the Arctic under extreme weather conditions.
Additionally, 1,500 Royal Marines are set to take part in Exercise Cold Response across Norway, Finland, and Sweden this year, collaborating with allies to defend key territories.
At Reach and across our entities we and our partners use information collected through cookies and other identifiers from your device to improve experience on our site, analyse how it is used and to show personalised advertising. You can opt out of the sale or sharing of your data, at any time clicking the “Do Not Sell or Share my Data” button at the bottom of the webpage. Please note that your preferences are browser specific. Use of our website and any of our services represents your acceptance of the use of <a data-testid="cipa-cookie-notice-link" href="https://www.mirror.co