PM has 'set out his position on Greenland' in a phone call with Trump

Donald Trump has finally taken a call from Keir Starmer - with No10 tamely saying the PM 'set out his position on Greenland'.

The leaders spoke last night, four days after the US president's extraordinary operation to oust Venezuela's dictator and take control of the oil-rich country.

Mr Trump has caused panic in Nato by warning he could use the might of the American military to seize Greenland, which belongs to ally Denmark.

Frantic negotiations have been going on over a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia, and yesterday UK and US forces worked together to capture a Russian-flagged oil tanker off the coast of Scotland. 

However, Downing Street released a bare 44-word readout of what was said on the call, raising questions about what representations Sir Keir made. 

A No10 spokesman said: 'They discussed the joint operation to intercept the Bella 1 as part of shared efforts to crack down on sanctions busting, recent progress on Ukraine and the US operation in Venezuela.

'The Prime Minister also set out his position on Greenland.'

On Tuesday Sir Keir joined European leaders in a joint statement where they made a vow to defend Greenland's 'territorial integrity'.

Leaders from France, Spain, Denmark, Italy, Germany and Poland also put their names to the public statement, following days of escalating tensions between the US and its NATO ally.

Trump and his advisers are currently exploring plans to purchase the island or take charge of its defence, according to a senior administration official.

However the White House said that 'utilising the US military is always an option' and warned the issue is 'not going away' despite the protests of NATO leaders. 

Earlier this week Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warned that a US takeover would spell the end of the Nato alliance.

She said the US threats against Greenland, which is a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark, had to be taken 'seriously'.

In a bleak assessment, she added: 'I believe one should take the American President seriously when he says that he wants Greenland. 

'But I will also make it clear that if the US chooses to attack another Nato country militarily, then everything stops, including Nato and thus the security that has been established since the end of the Second World War.'

On Tuesday European leaders including Sir Keir, Frederiksen and Emmanuel Macron declared they will 'not stop defending' Greenland despite threats from the US.

They called America an 'essential partner' and reiterated that the US and Denmark signed a defense agreement in 1951.

'Greenland belongs to its people. It is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland,' they said.

The statement added that the allies will continue to defend Greenland's 'territorial integrity' and the 'inviolability of borders'.

Read More

Starmer and Macron hit back at Trump after US said it could use military force to seize Greenland

Trump has argued that the US needs to control the island, which is more than three times the size of Texas, to ensure NATO security against rising threats from China and Russia in the Arctic.

He hinted on Sunday that a decision on Greenland may come 'in about two months,' once the situation in Venezuela has stabilised.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio insisted that the US favoured buying the island from Denmark and wanted to avoid the use of military force.

Mr Rubio said he planned to meet with Danish officials next week, after they requested calls with the US. 

The phone call marks the first time Sir Keir has spoken to the President since the Us captured Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro.

The Prime Minister refused to say whether the capture broke international law, causing some fury amongst his own backbench MPs.

On Wednedsay, British forces joined a dramatic US operation to seize a Russian-flagged oil tanker off the coast of Scotland.

The Marinera, a Venezuelan-linked vessel previously known as Bella-1, was captured as it travelled north and eastwards in the waters towards Iceland.

Read More

British forces join US operation to seize Russian-flagged oil tanker off coast of Scotland

RAF surveillance craft and a naval support vessel, the RFA Tideforce, were among the UK military assets which took part in the operation, according to the MoD.

Defence Secretary John Healey said: 'Today our UK Armed Forces showed skill and professionalism in support of a successful US interception of the vessel Bella 1 while on its way to Russia. This action formed part of global efforts to crack down on sanctions busting. 

'This ship, with a nefarious history, is part of a Russian-Iranian axis of sanctions evasion which is fuelling terrorism, conflict, and misery from the Middle East to Ukraine.

'The UK will continue to step up our action against shadow fleet activity to protect our national security, our economy, and global stability – making Britain secure at home and strong abroad.

'The US is the UK's closest defence and security partner. The depth of our defence relationship with the US is an essential part of our security, and today's seamlessly executed operation shows just how well this works in practice.'