Foreign Secretary issues warning to Donald Trump over Greenland - The Mirror

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper made the comment in the Commons on Monday evening amid growing alarm that US President Donald Trump could annex Greenland

The UK's Foreign Secretary has warned the future of Greenland is a matter for Greenlanders and Danes - and "no-one else".

Yvette Cooper made the comment in the Commons on Monday evening amid growing alarm that Donald Trump could annex Greenland. The US President has sparked fears over his intentions for the Danish territory after saying the US needs it for its national security.

The White House has long hinted it is eyeing up the island - but Mr Trump raised the issue of the territory once again after the US operation in Venezuela over the weekend. In a Commons statement today, Ms Cooper said: "Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark.

"Our close European partners, our long-standing Nato allies and all our countries work closely together on security issues, and will always do so. The future of Greenland is a matter for the Greenlanders and Danes, and no-one else."

Earlier Keir Starmer also stressed the UK stands with Denmark and said his Danish counterpart Mette Frederiksen was right to refuse the US president any claim to the territory. He told reporters: "Well, I stand with her, and she's right about the future of Greenland."

The PM continued: "Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark are to decide the future of Greenland, and only Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark. Denmark is a close ally in Europe, it is a Nato ally, and it's very important the future of Greenland is, as I say, for the Kingdom of Denmark, and for Greenland, and only for Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark."

Speaking to LBC the former Tory Chancellor Jeremy Hunt also warned that annexing Greenland could spell the end for the NATO alliance. He said: "Annexing a country that belongs to another NATO member is crossing an enormous red line that would be incredibly difficult for Europe to swallow.

"And if I have a worry... it is that the rather supine reaction we tend to get from European leaders when Donald Trump does something outrageous, might be encouraging him to think that Greenland is something that he could get away with. I think that it really could spell the end of NATO.

"And I think that would be absolutely disastrous. So, if I was in Keir Starmer's shoes right now, I'd be saying, year one of Trump, the biggest achievement was to keep NATO together through that NATO Summit that we had in June, when Trump could easily have walked away, as he nearly did in 2018. Year two, we've got to make sure this Greenland thing, however far fetched it may seem, does not happen.'

Mr Starmer also insisted on Monday that Venezuela must undergo a "peaceful transition to democracy" as quickly as possible after US military action in the country. Describing Maduro, who was abducted by the US over the weekend alongside his wife, as "illegitimate", he said: "I think the vast majority of Labour MPs would say that they want to see democracy in Venezuela. That is hugely important."

But he declined to comment on whether the operation breached international law. Ms Cooper insisted on Monday evening she had raised the issue of international law and said it was for the US to set out their own legal position.

Downing Street also said on Monday the safety of British nationals on the ground in Venezuela is a "top priority" for the government.

The PM's official spokesman said: "We're currently advising British nationals in Venezuela to shelter in place in case it's not safe for them to move, and to regularly review their departure options.This includes keeping travel documents valid and accessible and having a personal emergency landing country that doesn't depend on support from the UK Government."