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The United Kingdom has begun talks with European allies on the possible deployment of military forces to Greenland to strengthen security in the Arctic and ease concerns voiced by US President Donald Trump, The Telegraph reports.
According to the newspaper, military officials are drawing up plans for a potential NATO mission on the island, which Trump has repeatedly threatened to seize on security grounds. In recent days, British officials have held consultations with counterparts from Germany, France and other European countries to begin preliminary planning.
The plans are still at an early stage but could include the deployment of British troops, warships and aircraft to protect Greenland from potential threats posed by Russia and China. European governments hope that a stronger military presence in the Arctic would persuade Trump to abandon any idea of annexing the strategically important island.
Allies believe such a move would allow the US president to claim a “win” for American taxpayers by showing that Europe is taking on a greater share of the burden for security in the Atlantic region.
Greenland is a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, a NATO member state. The island is of major strategic importance and is rich in natural resources, including rare earth elements vital for modern technologies.
Sources cited by The Telegraph said UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer takes the threats from Russia and China in the Arctic “extremely seriously” and supports the need for proactive measures. Discussions on boosting security in the region are ongoing within NATO, and any potential operation would likely be conducted under the Alliance’s flag and remain separate from existing missions in the Baltics and Poland.
Trump has previously suggested that the US could seek to “take back” Greenland even at the cost of undermining NATO, arguing the Alliance is ineffective without strong American leadership. His remarks have drawn sharp criticism from Denmark, with Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen urging Trump to stop making threats and to respect Danish sovereignty.
