Keir Starmer told his French and German counterparts that Nato must ‘step up’ operations in the Arctic today as they frantically trying to stop Donald Trump seizing Greenland.
The PM discussed the brewing row over US threats with Emmanuel Macron and Friedrich Merz in a phone call.
European leaders have backed Denmark in a dispute with Mr Trump that has sparked fears the military alliance could be torn apart.
Sir Keir held a second call with the American president in just two days last night.
Downing Street said he had argued that Europe was defending the Arctic from Russia and China, but did concede that more could be done.
Sir Keir passed on that message about the High North in his discussion with Mr Macron and Mr Merz today.
According to the No10 readout of the conversation, he ‘said the Nato alliance needed to step up in the region to deter adversaries such as Russia’.
Keir Starmer told France’s Emmanuel Macron and Germany’s Friedrich Merz (pictured together last year) that Nato must ‘step up’ operations in the Arctic
European leaders have backed Denmark in a dispute with Donald Trump over Greenland that has sparked fears the Nato military alliance could be torn apart
In a day of frenzied diplomacy yesterday, the PM spoke to Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, who previously said if the US chooses to attack another Nato country militarily, ‘then everything stops’.
However, both agreed ‘that NATO should step up in the area to protect Euro-Atlantic interests’.
Nato secretary General Mark Rutte agreed with Sir Keir that ‘more needed to be done to deter Russia in the High North’.
Sir Keir then chatted to Mr Trump for the second time in two days.
No10 said the leaders had ‘discussed Euro-Atlantic security and agreed on the need to deter an increasingly aggressive Russia in the High North’.
A statement added: ‘European allies had stepped up in recent months to defend Euro-Atlantic interests, but more could be done to protect the area, the Prime Minister said.’
Mr Trump’s plan to acquire Greenland, either through purchasing the territory or through military means, has been criticised by political enemies and allies across Europe and in the US.
Critics of Mr Trump’s plan have suggested his interest lies in acquiring Greenland’s minerals and rare-earth energy supplies.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has told US politicians that it was the Trump administration’s intention to purchase Greenland rather than use military force.
In crisis talks with Denmark next week, White House advisers are expected to seek a peaceful transition for the world’s largest island.
Though self-governing, Greenland remains a Danish territory, though its 57,000 population favour independence from Copenhagen.
Danish PM Mette Frederiksen has warned that if the US chooses to attack another Nato country militarily the alliance will be over.
Such a scenario could even see US and Danish troops facing off – despite the soldiers working alongside each other to protect Greenland until now.
Under Danish military rules enshrined in 1952, the country’s forces would be obliged to respond to any invasion ‘without waiting for or seeking orders’ – in other words, shooting first and asking questions later.
Critics of Trump’s plan have suggested his interest lies in acquiring Greenland’s minerals and rare-earth energy supplies.
Greenland’s government has told Danish public broadcaster DR it will participate in the crisis meetings with Mr Rubio next week.
Mr Macron has denounced the ‘law of the strongest’ that is making people ‘wonder if Greenland will be invaded’.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has told US politicians that it was the Trump administration’s intention to purchase Greenland rather than use military force
