David Lammy has waded into a growing row over Donald Trump's potential seizure of Greenland with a swipe at the President-elect's "destabilising" remarks.
The Foreign Secretary told the BBC: "I think that we know from Donald Trump's first term that the intensity of his rhetoric and the unpredictability sometimes of what he said can be destabilising. He did it with Nato."
At a news conference just days ago, Trump had refused to rule out using military force to bring Greenland under American administration.
The incoming President also hinted that he could annex the Panama Canal for "economic security" - which sparked comparisons to the Suez Crisis.
"We need Greenland for national security purposes," he said at his Mar-a-Lago base.
"People really don’t even know if Denmark has any legal right to it, but if they do they should give it up because we need it for national security."
He then received a stern telling-off from France and Germany - with the French foreign minister warning him "there is obviously no question that the European Union would let other nations of the world attack its sovereign borders".
Greenland's prime minister, Mute Egede, is pushing for independence from Denmark, but he has also been firm that the territory is not for sale.
MORE AS TRUMP EYES UP GREENLAND:
And today, Lammy has hit out at Trump's rhetoric - a mere 11 days before he retakes the White House.
However, the Foreign Secretary added: "I suspect on Greenland what he's targeting is his concerns about Russia and China in the Arctic... his concerns about national economic security.
"He recognises that, in the end, Greenland today is a kingdom of Denmark. There is a debate in Greenland about their own self-determination. But behind it I think are his concerns about the Arctic."
Lammy added that a Trump takeover of Greenland would not happen because no Nato allies have ever gone to war.
Lammy's swipes at Trump are the latest in a litany of jabs at the former and future President.
He has called the incoming Commander-in-Chief "incompetent", a "troll", a "neo-Nazi-sympathising sociopath", a "fragile, bigoted and cowardly disgrace" and "no friend of Britain".
But the Trump team - in light of Labour's fierce spat with Elon Musk - have been considering the future of the UK-US security partnership in recent weeks thanks to the "statements of Starmer, Lammy and [Lord] Mandelson and the deterioration of the relationship".
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The Foreign Secretary told the BBC: "I think that we know from Donald Trump's first term that the intensity of his rhetoric and the unpredictability sometimes of what he said can be destabilising. He did it with Nato."
At a news conference just days ago, Trump had refused to rule out using military force to bring Greenland under American administration.
The incoming President also hinted that he could annex the Panama Canal for "economic security" - which sparked comparisons to the Suez Crisis.
"We need Greenland for national security purposes," he said at his Mar-a-Lago base.
"People really don’t even know if Denmark has any legal right to it, but if they do they should give it up because we need it for national security."
He then received a stern telling-off from France and Germany - with the French foreign minister warning him "there is obviously no question that the European Union would let other nations of the world attack its sovereign borders".
Greenland's prime minister, Mute Egede, is pushing for independence from Denmark, but he has also been firm that the territory is not for sale.
MORE AS TRUMP EYES UP GREENLAND:
- Trump Jr to visit Greenland after President-elect suggests US takeover a 'necessity'
- Royals send message to Donald Trump amid request to buy world's biggest island
- Donald Trump claims Greenland 'real estate deal' would be 'strategically nice' for US
And today, Lammy has hit out at Trump's rhetoric - a mere 11 days before he retakes the White House.
However, the Foreign Secretary added: "I suspect on Greenland what he's targeting is his concerns about Russia and China in the Arctic... his concerns about national economic security.
"He recognises that, in the end, Greenland today is a kingdom of Denmark. There is a debate in Greenland about their own self-determination. But behind it I think are his concerns about the Arctic."
Lammy added that a Trump takeover of Greenland would not happen because no Nato allies have ever gone to war.
Lammy's swipes at Trump are the latest in a litany of jabs at the former and future President.
He has called the incoming Commander-in-Chief "incompetent", a "troll", a "neo-Nazi-sympathising sociopath", a "fragile, bigoted and cowardly disgrace" and "no friend of Britain".
But the Trump team - in light of Labour's fierce spat with Elon Musk - have been considering the future of the UK-US security partnership in recent weeks thanks to the "statements of Starmer, Lammy and [Lord] Mandelson and the deterioration of the relationship".
Find Out More...