Sir Keir Starmer has “set out his position on Greenland” in a call with Donald Trump, Downing Street has said.
No10 confirmed the two leaders spoke over the phone this evening though failed to provide a detailed description of the Prime Minister’s comments.
During the call, Sir Keir and President Trump also discussed the seizure of the Russian-flagged oil tanker Marinera earlier in the day, continuing negotiations on the future of Ukraine and US military action in Venezuela.
It is the first time the pair have spoken since US special forces seized Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro and brought him to New York on Saturday.
President Trump has in recent days repeated he wants to gain control of Greenland, an idea he has voiced since 2019 during his first presidency.
He argues the island is key to US military strategy and claims Denmark has not done enough to protect it.
Greenland boasts thousands on thousands of square miles of land in the Arctic Circle.
It also sits between two major Arctic shipping routes – which are vital for Russian trade – and forms one third of the “GIUK Gap”, a key strategic waterway between itself, Iceland and the UK.
Sir Keir and Donald Trump spoke on the phone this evening
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PA
Sir Keir and European allies have however insisted that the future of the territory must be a matter for Greenland and Denmark.
Speaking at Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, Sir Keir said: “The future of Greenland is for Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark alone.”
Greenland and Denmark have both insisted the island is not for sale.
If the US military were to seize Greenland from longtime ally and Nato colleague Denmark, it would doubtless send shockwaves through the Nato alliance and could deepen the divide between President Trump and Europe.
White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt however said this afternoon that President Trump remains committed to Nato – even as he and his national security team are holding active discussions about a US purchase of Greenland.
Mr Trump said on social media that the US “will always be there for Nato, even if they won’t be there for us”.