Stop tiptoeing around over ‘thieving Trump’, PM told

Former defence secretary Ben Wallace attacks Starmer's 'mealy-mouthed' response to US threat to attack Greenland

- ATHENA STAVROU

Sir Keir Starmer has been urged by senior British military figures to be much tougher in resisting Donald Trump's threat to take over Greenland.

Former defence secretary Sir Ben Wallace accused President Trump of attempting to “thieve” Greenland’s mineral assets and said the prime minister must be less “mealymouthed” in condemning his actions.

He was backed by former Nato deputy supreme allied commander General Sir Richard Shirreff, who said the British government “ducks and weaves” instead of taking a firm stance on defending Greenland.

It came as US secretary of state Marco Rubio said he plans to meet Danish officials next week and insisted Mr Trump has been talking about acquiring Greenland since his first term.

“That’s always been the president’s intent from the very beginning,” Mr Rubio said. “He’s not the first US president that has examined or looked at how we could acquire Greenland.”

Sir Ben, Conservative defence secretary from 2019 to 2023, said it was vital for Britain to protect Greenland, which is a territory of Denmark, a Nato country.

That meant standing up to Mr Trump, who “like Putin ... thinks the Europeans are weak and does not respect mealymouthed statements”.