Britain holds NATO talks to signal US it can curb Russia, China influence in Greenland

Britain is holding ongoing discussions with NATO allies on Arctic security, largely to signal to the United States that it can counter Russia and China’s influence in Greenland, even if the actual threat remains uncertain. UK Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander described the talks as “business as usual” within NATO, but officials say they also serve to reassure Washington. The discussions involve British defence and foreign ministry officials, European counterparts from Germany, France and other NATO members, and Denmark , which is responsible for Greenland’s defence, with further formal meetings expected in the coming weeks. The move follows repeated comments by US President Donald Trump , who has said the United States must act to prevent Russia or China from “taking over” Greenland, framing the island as a strategic priority for Washington.

Trump has claimed that Russian and Chinese activity in Greenland is increasing and that the United States must secure the island to maintain its national security. “Russia or China will take over Greenland and we’re not going to have Russia or China as a neighbour ,” he said, adding that Washington might pursue control “the easy way” through a deal, or “the hard way” if necessary. He has insisted that the US must “own” the island to defend it effectively, warning that current arrangements are insufficient.

Greenland’s government has firmly rejected any suggestion of a takeover, stressing that the island is not for sale and that only Greenlanders can decide their future. Its leaders have appealed for calm, emphasising cooperation with the US and NATO on security and development while opposing any move that could undermine self-rule. Analysts note that the UK’s NATO talks appear designed less to respond to confirmed threats and more to show Washington that Britain is prepared to take a leading role if needed, mediating within the alliance and signalling support to the United States.

The island’s strategic value has grown sharply as melting Arctic ice opens new sea routes and shortens shipping corridors between Europe, Asia and North America. Its location between North America and Europe, near key Arctic and North Atlantic passages, has made it central to future economic and military planning. Greenland also lies along potential missile and aircraft routes between Russia and North America, making it critical to early warning and missile defence systems, and is believed to hold significant rare earth mineral reserves crucial for advanced technology, renewable energy and defence industries.

The United States maintains the most established military presence in Greenland through the Pituffik Space Base , supporting missile warning, space surveillance and Arctic operations. Russia has expanded its Arctic footprint and promoted the Northern Sea Route as a future global shipping artery, while China’s involvement has been largely economic, focusing on research, infrastructure and mining, although several projects were blocked over security concerns. Europe, anchored in governance and collective defence, relies on Denmark for Greenland’s security, with allies increasingly viewing the island as critical to NATO’s northern defences.

Alexander said Britain agreed that Russia and China were becoming more competitive in the Arctic. “Whilst we haven’t seen the appalling consequences in that part of the world that we’ve seen in Ukraine, it is really important that we do everything we can with our NATO allies to ensure an effective deterrent”.

NATO’s response is complicated by structural imbalances. The United States accounts for roughly 66 per cent of total NATO military spending and spends more than the next ten highest-spending countries combined. While European defence budgets are rising, militaries remain fragmented and heavily dependent on US intelligence, logistics, missile defence and nuclear deterrence. That reliance has made Britain’s reassurance to Washington especially significant, as allies navigate uncertainty over Trump’s unpredictable approach.

Britain’s former ambassador to the US, Peter Mandelson , said he did not believe Trump would seize Greenland by force. Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrat Party, suggested Britain could deploy troops under a joint command with Denmark, warning that undermining NATO unity would only benefit Russian President Vladimir Putin . As climate change continues to transform the Arctic, the UK’s NATO talks underline a broader message: Britain is signalling to the United States that it is ready to help lead in Greenland and the Arctic, even if the actual scale of Russian and Chinese influence remains unclear.