British Foreign Secretary David Lammy refused to condemn US President-elect Donald Trump's statement on Greenland. Britain's top diplomat insisted the US would not acquire the self-governing Danish territory.
"I'm not in the business of condemning our closest ally," Lammy told Sky News. He added that he was "concerned with interpreting what's behind those words, and there are some very serious national economic security issues."
The comments contrast with the reaction of some European leaders to Trump's refusal to rule out using economic or military force to acquire Greenland.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that stance had caused "remarkable misunderstanding" and "anxiety" among EU leaders, and later noted on social media that "borders should not be moved by force."
London, which values the so-called special relationship with Washington, is keen not to spoil its relationship with Trump and his team under the UK's new Labour government.
This comes after a number of Labour Party ministers have already made disparaging comments about the president-elect, including Lammy, who once described him as a "tyrant" and a "xenophobe".
Trump has designs on the mineral- and oil-rich Arctic island, an autonomous territory of EU member Denmark, which is seeking independence itself.
On 7 January, he caused alarm when he said the US needed Greenland "for national security purposes".
In a series of interviews, Britain's top diplomat described the incoming US president's remarks as "classic Donald Trump" and said they focused on "the national economic security of Americans".
"At the end of the day, it's up to the people of Greenland and their own self-determination, and there's a discussion going on in Greenland about those same issues," the top diplomat told Sky News.
Asked by the BBC how the UK would react if Trump follows through on his claim that the US might try to acquire Greenland by economic or military force, Lamy insisted that "it's not going to happen", noting that "no NATO ally has gone to war since the alliance was created".
The minister was careful not to criticize Trump, noting that while his "rhetoric" and "unpredictability" are "destabilizing," the results could be beneficial to Western allies.
As an example, he pointed to Trump's insistence on increased defense spending by NATO members.
Lamy added that Trump's comments on Greenland addressed legitimate "concerns about Russia and China in the Arctic" as well as "national economic security."
"I'm sure he recognizes that ultimately Greenland today is part of the Kingdom of Denmark. There is a debate in Greenland about their own self-determination," the head of British diplomacy said.
Lamy noted that the US has troops and a military base in Greenland.
"So they have a stake in this Arctic theatre," he added. | BGNES
