Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander claimed 'business as usual discussions' are ongoing about security in the Arctic amid reports a NATO mission to the island is being planned as an alternative to a US invasion
09:00, 11 Jan 2026Updated 15:39, 11 Jan 2026
A UK minister refused to rule out putting British boots on the ground in Greenland amid growing threats from Donald Trump.
Keir Starmer faces calls to commit troops to the island as part of a NATO operation to tackle Russian and Chinese aggression in the High North. The US President has hinted he plans to invade the Danish territory on national security grounds - a move the UK says it opposes.
Plans are reportedly being drawn up to send a NATO mission to protect it instead. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said the region was increasingly contested and added: "You would expect us to be talking to all our allies in NATO about what we can do to deter Russian aggression in the Arctic Circle."
She suggested reports of military plans were "reading into business as usual", but did not rule it out as a possibility. Ms Alexander pointed out that the UK is already active in the region, stating: "And of course, you know well that we're a leading member in the Joint Expeditionary Force, which is a coalition of ten like-minded nations who see defence and deterrence in the Arctic Circle, in the high sea, as of being paramount importance."
Mr Trump has suggested the US could offer to buy Greenland, but added ominously last week: "If we don't do it the easy way, we're going to do it the hard way". Denmark has warned that an invasion would tear the NATO alliance apart, and Mr Starmer joined European leaders urging Mr Trump to rule it out.
On Sunday the PM was urged to offer British troops to protect the island from Putin's forces. Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey said: "The UK should offer to send troops to Greenland as part of a joint NATO operation under Danish and UK command.
"If Trump is serious about security, he'd agree to participate and drop his outrageous threats. Tearing the NATO alliance apart would only play into the hands of Putin."
The Government's National Security Strategy last year flagged the region as a new area of strategic competition - contested by major powers like Russia and China. A source said NATO discussions on reinforcing security in the region are ongoing - with the UK working closely with allies.
Last year UK Commandos took part in Exercise Joint Viking in Norway - one of NATO’s biggest High North drills in subzero temperatures.
And 1,500 Royal Marines will deploy for Exercise Cold Response across Norway, Finland and Sweden this year. They will be training with allies to defend key terrain.