UK's Lammy refuses to condemn Trump comments on Greenland

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy yesterday refused to condemn President-elect Donald Trump's Greenland ambitions, insisting that the US acquiring the self-governing Danish territory is "not going to happen."

"I'm not in the business of condemning our closest ally," Lammy told Sky News, adding that he was "in the business of interpreting what sits behind this and there are some very serious national economic security issues."

The comments contrast with the response of some European leaders on Wednesday to Trump refusing to rule out using economic or military force to acquire Greenland.

Germany's Olaf Scholz said the stance had sparked "notable incomprehension" and "uneasiness" among EU leaders and later noted on social media that "borders must not be moved by force."

London, which prizes its so-called special relationship with Washington, is eager not to damage relations with Trump and his team under the UK's new Labour government.

Agence France-Presse