Starmer says 'more needs to be done to protect' the Arctic in call to Trump

Sir Keir Starmer has said "more needs to beryllium done to protect" the Arctic portion and agreed with Donald Trump connected the "need to deter an progressively assertive Russia successful the High North" during his 2nd telephone successful 2 days with the US president, Downing Street has said.

Amid a flurry of diplomatic activity, Sir Keir spoke to Mr Trump astir "Euro-Atlantic security" successful the aftermath of fears the US president whitethorn usage subject unit to instrumentality Greenland, having captured Venezuela's Nicola Maduro.

Mr Trump has repeatedly said that the US needs Greenland, the largest land successful the Arctic, arsenic "Greenland is precise important for the nationalist information of the United States, Europe, and different parts of the escaped world".

US officials person said they could usage "military means" to "acquire" the semi-autonomous Danish territory.

This is contempt Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen informing that NATO would beryllium nether threat successful the lawsuit of a US penetration of the territory.

Sir Keir has said antecedently said that decisions astir Greenland's aboriginal should beryllium made solely by its radical and Denmark.

On Wednesday, helium reiterated that presumption to Mr Trump successful a telephone described by Downing Street sources arsenic "positive" and "friendly".

But successful a 2nd speech connected Thursday, the 2 leaders discussed deterring Russia successful the High North, which includes Greenland.

A connection from Downing Street astir the telephone said: "The leaders discussed Euro-Atlantic information and agreed connected the request to deter an progressively assertive Russia successful the High North.

"European Allies had stepped up successful caller months to support Euro-Atlantic interests, but much could beryllium done to support the area, the Prime Minister said.

"The leaders looked guardant to speaking again soon."

It came arsenic Sir Keir besides spoke to NATO main Mark Rutte astir the "High North".

In a Downing Street connection astir Sir Keir's telephone with Mr Rutte, No 10 said: "They agreed that much needed to beryllium done to deter Russia successful the High North and welcomed discussions connected however Allies could further support the portion from expanding Russian threats."

Sir Keir besides spoke to the Danish premier minister, reiterating his presumption that Britain "stood" with Denmark.

Reuters reported that Sir Keir told Ms Frederickson that ‌Britain stood with Denmark ​in its defence of Greenland, and the ⁠leaders besides ‌discussed Ukraine.

Sir Keir had been criticised by Conservative person Kemi Badenoch successful the past fewer days for failing to speech to the US president aft the US carried retired its raid to prehend Mr Maduro and consequent seizure of 2 lipid tankers - 1 of which progressive UK forces successful the North Atlantic.

In a associated statement, wide seen arsenic a connection to the US, the UK and European allies vowed earlier this week that they would "not halt defending" Greenland's territorial integrity.

Sir Keir has besides faced unit to regularisation retired immoderate US usage of UK bases to enactment an onslaught connected Greenland.

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Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy was acceptable to underline the closeness of the "special relationship" betwixt the UK and the US during a gathering with US vice president JD Vance successful Washington connected Thursday.

Mr Lammy's sojourn to the US marks the 250th day of America's declaration of independency from Britain.

Speaking astatine the White House earlier connected Thursday, Mr Vance said the US president's words connected Greenland should beryllium taken seriously.

"Greenland is truly important not conscionable to America's rocket defence, but to the world's rocket defence," the vice president said.

"So what we're asking our European friends to bash is to instrumentality the information of that landmass much seriously, due to the fact that if they're not, the United States is going to person to bash thing astir it.

"What that is, I'll permission that to the president arsenic we proceed to prosecute successful diplomacy with our European friends and everybody connected this peculiar topic."

Danish and Greenland envoys to Washington person been progressive successful a furious effort implicit the past fewer days to impulse cardinal Trump medication officials to measurement backmost from Mr Trump's telephone for a takeover of the strategical island.

Denmark's ambassador to the US, Jesper Moller Sorensen, and Jacob Isbosethsen, Greenland's main typical to Washington, met connected Thursday with White House National Security Council officials, Associated Press reported.

Sky News understands the brace besides met with White House officials to question a amended knowing of US argumentation connected Greenland but sources declined to accidental who from the Trump Administration participated successful the discussions.

While subject unit was 1 enactment to execute Mr Trump's stated aim, the acquisition of the territory is another, US officals person said, and US caput of authorities ‌Marco Rubio is expected to conscionable with ⁠Danish officials adjacent week successful Washington.