UK in talks with European allies over troop deployment to Greenland amid Trump annexation push

The United Kingdom has opened discussions with key European allies on the possible deployment of a multinational military force to Greenland, in a move aimed at discouraging US President Donald Trump from pursuing his long-standing ambition to bring the Arctic island under American control.

According to a report by The Standard, senior defence officials are considering early plans for a potential NATO-led operation that could see troops, naval vessels and aircraft stationed in Greenland, a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark.

The proposal, the report said, is intended to strengthen Arctic security against perceived threats from Russia and China, while easing tensions sparked by Trump’s repeated rhetoric over annexing the island.

British officials are understood to have recently consulted counterparts in France and Germany as discussions around the mission begin to take shape. Although still at a preliminary stage, the talks are said to be focused on offering Trump a political off-ramp by showing that European allies are prepared to shoulder a greater share of the security burden in the High North.

European governments believe that a visible increase in allied military presence could allow Trump to present the outcome as a victory for Washington — arguing that US partners are stepping up — without resorting to what they see as a destabilising attempt to annex Greenland.

Trump has repeatedly refused to rule out the use of force to secure the vast Arctic territory, insisting that the United States cannot afford to allow Russia or China gain influence so close to North America.

“We’re not going to have Russia or China as a neighbour,” he has said, while also highlighting Greenland’s strategic resources, including rare earth minerals, copper and nickel.

UK government sources say Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer views the evolving security landscape in the Arctic with deep concern and agrees that coordinated allied action is necessary. One official said Britain shared Trump’s assessment that Russian activity in the region must be checked, adding that discussions within NATO on reinforcing Arctic defences are ongoing.

“The UK is working closely with allies to strengthen deterrence and defence in the Arctic,” the source said, noting that any future operation would align with national interests and collective security commitments.

Trump’s comments in recent months have unsettled NATO partners and fuelled fears of a serious rift within the 75-year-old alliance. He has gone as far as suggesting financial incentives for Greenland’s roughly 30,000 residents, while warning that Washington would act “whether they like it or not.”

In response, European nations are exploring ways to avert a crisis by proposing an allied military presence on the island. The idea was reportedly raised at a recent NATO meeting in Brussels, where military planners were tasked with examining options to improve security across the Arctic.

These options range from a full-scale deployment to expanded military exercises, enhanced intelligence cooperation and redirected defence spending. Any mission would likely operate under NATO command and remain separate from existing deployments in Eastern Europe.

British defence officials say the UK armed forces are already preparing for a broader Arctic role, with Royal Marines and Royal Navy assets taking part in cold-weather exercises in Norway, Finland and Sweden.

Meanwhile, the European Union is said to be weighing possible retaliatory measures should Trump reject a NATO-backed approach, including sanctions targeting major US technology firms and financial institutions. More extreme scenarios reportedly under discussion include restricting US access to military bases in Europe.

Diplomatic efforts are continuing, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expected to meet Danish officials next week. European leaders hope the talks will help temper Trump’s stance, which analysts believe may be a negotiating tactic rather than a fixed plan to seize the territory.

Justin Crump, head of risk consultancy Sibylline, said the US president appeared to be testing Europe’s unity over Greenland, adding that a NATO deployment could clarify whether security concerns truly underpin Washington’s interest.

The debate comes as questions persist over Britain’s own military readiness. Former RAF chief Air Marshal Edward Stringer has warned that the UK’s ability to sustain combat operations in the Arctic is overstated, arguing that the gap between perceived strength and actual capability has grown dangerously wide.

In a recent report, he said the era of relying on overwhelming US military dominance is fading, forcing NATO members to confront uncomfortable realities about their own defences.

A Foreign Office spokesperson reiterated that the UK remains committed to working with NATO partners to bolster deterrence and defence in the Arctic region.