Only Greenland and Denmark should decide its future, Starmer says
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has delivered an unambiguous "Yes" to calls for President Trump to keep "hands off Greenland," following renewed threats from the US to annex the Danish autonomous territory.
Speaking to the BBC on Monday, 5 January 2026, Sir Keir insisted that the future of Greenland must be determined solely by its people and the Kingdom of Denmark. His firm stance comes after President Trump doubled down on his desire to acquire the island for "national security" reasons, claiming it is currently "covered by Russian and Chinese ships."
Tensions in the North Atlantic 🧊
The diplomatic row escalated over the weekend following a series of statements from Washington that rattled European allies:
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Trump’s Demand: Speaking aboard Air Force One, the US President said, "We need Greenland from the standpoint of national security, and Denmark is not going to be able to do it." He mockingly suggested he would revisit the matter "in 20 days."
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Greenland’s Rejection: Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen was blunt in his response: "Enough is enough. No more pressure. No more fantasies about annexation."
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Denmark’s Warning: Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warned on Monday that any US attack on a NATO ally would mark the "end of everything," including the post-WWII security order.
Sir Keir told reporters, "It is very important that we stand by our ally. Denmark is a close ally in Europe and a NATO ally."
The Venezuela Controversy 🇻🇪
While Sir Keir was definitive on Greenland, he faced significant criticism for his more cautious response to the US military operation in Venezuela. Over the weekend, US Special Forces captured President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in Caracas. They are currently being held in New York on narcoterrorism charges.
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Starmer’s Stance: The PM has refused to explicitly state whether the US broke international law. "The US will have to justify the actions they have taken," he said, adding that he wants to "establish all the facts" before reaching a final decision.
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Backbench Pressure: Several Labour MPs, along with the Lib Dems, SNP, and Green Party, have condemned the US strikes as a "violation of international law."
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The Precedent: Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Dame Emily Thornberry warned that failing to condemn the move creates a "dangerous precedent" that could embolden Russia and China in their own "spheres of influence," such as Ukraine and Taiwan.
Domestic and Global Reactions
The UN Security Council is expected to meet later today to discuss the legality of the US operation, while Maduro is scheduled to make his first appearance in a Manhattan federal court.
