UK consults NATO allies in Europe on Arctic defense

The United Kingdom is consulting with its NATO alliance partners on strengthening the West's military presence in the Arctic, as the UK seeks to counter United States President Donald Trump's bid to take control of Greenland.

UK officials have met with German and French counterparts in recent days as an outline of the operation takes shape, with NATO allies considering a mission that could field troops, ships, and aircraft to secure the Arctic region, reported The Daily Telegraph newspaper.

Trump has repeatedly insisted that the US must "own" Greenland, a self-governed island that is controlled by Denmark, citing security reasons.

Downing Street said the prime minister views mounting security risks in the region "extremely seriously", and is pressing the case to the Trump administration that the Arctic can be secured without annexing Greenland.

One government official said: "NATO discussions on reinforcing security in the region continue, and we would never get ahead of those, but the UK is working with NATO allies to drive efforts to bolster Arctic deterrence and defense. The UK will continue to work with allies — as we always have — on operations in our national interest, protecting people back at home."

NATO allies reviewed the proposal at a Thursday meeting in Brussels, Belgium and have reportedly tasked Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, which is the military headquarters for NATO's Allied Command Operations, with developing options to strengthen Arctic security.

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen told reporters the European Union is "accelerating our work" in Greenland to bolster "Arctic security".

"Greenland belongs to its people … Nothing about them without them," she said. "But of course it is also a European topic because Arctic security matters enormously to us. And critically it is a topic for NATO."

Sources said options for a mission span from a full scale deployment to a lighter package of exercises, intelligence sharing, and redirected defense budgets.

Germany's Vice-Chancellor Lars Klingbeil has urged the US to respect international law and Greenland's sovereignty.

"It is solely a matter for Denmark and Greenland to decide on the future of Greenland," Klingbeil said on Sunday. "Territorial sovereignty and integrity must be respected. These principles of international law apply to everyone – including the United States. We are working together as NATO allies to increase security in the Arctic, not against each other."

Klingbeil was due in Washington on Monday for a G7 finance ministers' meeting convened by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and US administration officials are due to discuss Greenland with Denmark on Wednesday.