A senior UK government minister has repeatedly declined to state whether it would be wrong for the United States to invade Greenland, following renewed threats from former President Donald Trump to take over the Danish territory.
Minister Evades Direct Condemnation
The comments came from Migration Minister Mike Tapp during an interview on Mornings with Ridge and Frost on Monday 5 January 2026. He was asked multiple times if the UK government would condemn any potential US action against Greenland.
Mr Tapp avoided giving a direct answer, stating instead that "allies do matter" and emphasising that there were "careful diplomatic conversations behind the scenes." He highlighted that both the US and Greenland are NATO members, adding he was "really proud" the alliance had "used discussion over division."
After being pressed on the issue three times, Mr Tapp concluded, "This isn't for me to sit here and talk about hypotheticals, we could go on forever."
Contrast with Previous UK Stance
This cautious approach marks a shift from the UK's position less than a year earlier. In April 2025, the UK minister for Europe and North America, Stephen Doughty, was clear on the matter.
Mr Doughty stated, "The UK has a longstanding policy of respecting self-determination" and confirmed that "Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark", with its future being a matter for its people and government.
Mr Trump's latest remarks were made on Sunday 4 January, just a day after a US military operation in Venezuela resulted in the capture of that country's president, Nicolas Maduro, and his wife. The former president said the US "does need Greenland", prompting the Danish prime minister to urge him to "stop the threats."
UK Reaction to Venezuela Operation
Mr Tapp adopted a similarly non-committal stance when questioned about the legality of the US strikes in Venezuela and the capture of President Maduro. The former soldier referenced the "fog of war" and said it was for the US to "lay out its legal basis" for its actions.
He added that the UK government was "not displeased" that Mr Maduro was no longer in power. Mr Tapp also stated he would not be "pressured by social media and commentators" into a quick judgement on whether international law was broken.
This contrasts with several other NATO allies, including France, Spain, Canada, and Germany, as well as UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, who were quick to question the operation's legality. The UK's opposition leadership, Sir Keir Starmer and Darren Jones, mirrored Mr Tapp's cautious wait-and-see approach.
