During a recent phone conversation on Wednesday evening, Sir Keir Starmer shared his views on Greenland with Donald Trump, according to a statement from Downing Street. There have been suggestions from US officials about potentially using military force to take control of Greenland, a semi-autonomous Danish territory that President Trump deems crucial for national security. However, Downing Street did not elaborate on Sir Keir’s remarks.

The UK Prime Minister has consistently emphasized that the future of Greenland should be determined solely by Greenland and Denmark, reaffirming this stance in the House of Commons earlier the same day.

Tensions over Greenland have strained relations between the US and Europe, with Denmark’s prime minister cautioning that a US acquisition of Greenland could have repercussions for NATO’s future.

In addition to discussing Greenland, Wednesday’s call also touched on the seizure of the oil tanker Marinera, ongoing negotiations concerning Ukraine, and US military activities in Venezuela. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio previously mentioned Trump’s contemplation of “acquiring Greenland,” suggesting a potential purchase while keeping the option open for the use of force.

In an article for the Spectator, Lord Peter Mandelson, who was removed as the US ambassador last year due to connections with Jeffrey Epstein, criticized European nations for their exaggerated concerns about Greenland, attributing it to their diminishing geopolitical influence. Mandelson downplayed fears of a US invasion of Greenland, labeling concerns about sovereignty and NATO as mere theatrics, and advocated for an enhanced American presence in the region to counter Russian and Chinese influence.

Sir Keir’s discussion with Trump coincides with Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy’s upcoming meeting with US Vice-President JD Vance on Thursday, where Greenland is likely to be a topic of discussion, marking the 250th anniversary of America’s independence from Britain. Lammy and Vance have a longstanding friendship, with Lammy having hosted Vance and his family at Chevening last year.

This call between Starmer and Trump was their first conversation since US special forces apprehended Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and brought him to New York last Saturday.