Donald Trump has insisted that taking over Greenland, a semi-autonomous Danish territory, is vital for his country's national security.
There is “no question” of British bases being used to support US military action against Greenland, the Defence Secretary has said.
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On a visit to Kyiv, John Healey rejected the prospect of UK support for an attack on Greenland, saying the UK would only act “on a fully legal basis”. Asked whether he would allow British bases, personnel or equipment to be used to support US action against Greenland, Mr Healey said: “There’s no question of that. “Greenland and Denmark are part of Nato, we and the US are part of that alliance with treaty obligations. “And so far as the UK’s support for any nation with any military action, we will do so if the purpose is correct and if the legal basis is sound.” Read more: Starmer 'sets out position' on Greenland during phone call with Trump Read more: Trump says US 'will always be there for NATO' as Greenland tensions rise
Britain won’t let US use its bases to attack Greenland, says John Healey. Picture: Alamy
His comments come after a week of mounting concern that Donald Trump could deploy US troops to achieve his aim of taking over Greenland, which he claims is vital for American national security. US officials have said they could use “military means” to “acquire” the semi-autonomous Danish territory. Denmark’s prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, has warned that any US military action against Greenland would spell the end of the Nato alliance, of which her country is a member. And European leaders, including Sir Keir Starmer, have repeatedly stressed that the future of the semi-autonomous Danish territory must be left up to Greenland and Denmark alone.
Mette Frederiksen has warned that any US military action against Greenland would spell the end of the Nato alliance. Picture: Alamy
Harpalyce on January 10th, 2026 at 00:55 UTC »
The splitting up of the world into three great super-states was an event which could be and indeed was foreseen before the middle of the twentieth century. With the absorption of Europe by Russia and of the British Empire by the United States, two of the three existing powers, Eurasia and Oceania, were already effectively in being.
1984 (Part 2. Ch 9.) By George OrwellElusive_Zergling on January 10th, 2026 at 00:02 UTC »
For anyone wondering who this geezer is, he's our Secretary of State for Defence, a big cheese here if you will and if he said what is in the headline, then it's happening.
crashorbit on January 9th, 2026 at 23:47 UTC »
On the one hand apparently climate change is a hoax. On the other hand Trump wants Greenland so that when the ice is gone he can shovel up the cobalt and lithium.
Does that make sense to any of you?