Funforgegames
Technology

UK could send soldiers to Greenland to show Trump he doesn’t need to take over

January 11, 2026 • 5 min read • views
UK could send soldiers to Greenland to show Trump he doesn’t need to take over
UK could send soldiers to Greenland to show Trump he doesn’t need to take over Sarah Hooper Sarah Hooper Published January 11, 2026 4:41pm Updated January 11, 2026 4:41pm Share this article via whatsappShare this article via xCopy the link to this article.Link is copiedShare this article via facebook Comment now Comments In scenes that look as if from Star Wars, British Army commandos are seen preparing for conflict in the Arctic. Elite soldiers from 45 Commando squadron have been practicing troop insertion exercises this week to be ready for war in the region. In scenes reminiscent of The Empire Strike Back's snowy battle scenes, the Royal Marines are seen in white camouflage as they arrive by helicopter during the exercise in Norway on Sunday (16 Feb). The Royal Navy said: "A pair of Merlin Mk4 Helicopters from 845 Naval Air Squadron inserted Royal Marine troops from 45 Commando based at Camp Viking into an exercise area in the Mauken mountain range of Norway during Operation Clockwork 25. The MOD say the UK is one of only a small number of nations capable of operating in this demanding environment. Operation Clockwork sees troops undergo training to operate in extreme cold-weather environments. A NATO mission could be sent to Greenland to deter Trump (Picture: Royal Navy)

The UK is working with Nato allies to bolster security in the Arctic and could send British troops to Greenland.

There are reports that military chiefs are drawing up plans for a possible Nato mission to Greenland, which could involve British soldiers, warships and planes being deployed to the island.

It comes as President Donald Trump has insisted he wants control over Greenland and has not ruled out the prospect of using military force to seize the semi-autonomous Danish territory.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said discussions about securing the High North against Russia and China were part of Nato’s ‘business as usual’ rather than a response to the US military threat.

But she said the UK agreed with President Trump that the Arctic Circle ‘is becoming an increasingly contested part of the world with the ambitions of (Vladimir) Putin and China’.

‘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 that we can with all of our Nato allies to ensure that we have an effective deterrent in that part of the globe against Putin,’ she said.

08 Jan 2026 - Commando Helicopter Forces Mobile Air Operations Team conduct load lifting training with members of Joint Helicopter Support Squadron using a Merlin Mk4 from 845 Naval Air Squadron. Dramatic images show British commandos training in the Arctic on Thursday (Jan 8). The exercise comes following the announcement that the operators are returning in force year-round to the Arctic Circle amid a growing Russian threat. Aircraft from Commando Helicopter Force have deployed to a Royal Norwegian Air Force base, Bardufoss, for their annual workout in the Arctic Circle, Operation Clockwork. The manoeuvres will lead up to Exercise Cold Response in March ??? the largest military exercise in the country in 2026, which will demonstrate the unity of NATO and the ability of the alliance to deter threats in the high north. Photo released 09/01/2026 British commandos have already been training in the Arctic (Picture: SWNS)

Trump has said he wants to get control over Greenland, which has a strategic location and natural resources, adding ‘if we don’t do it the easy way, we’re going to do it the hard way.

But former UK ambassador to the US Lord Peter Mandelson said he did not believe Trump would use the military against a Nato ally.

‘President Trump is not going to land on Greenland, take Greenland by force,’ he said. ‘He’s not a fool.

More Trending

  1. Play Video

    Tourist boat packed with 55 people smashes into trawler and sinks off Thai coast

    Channel: World World 15 hours ago By Craig Munro
  2. Tributes pour in for 'gentle giant' Surrey man 'beaten to death' in Toronto
  3. Donald Trump snubbed again for Nobel Peace Prize - despite best efforts
  4. Fashion student, 23, shot in head named as one of more than 500 killed in Iran protests

‘What’s going to happen is there’s going to be a lot of discussion, a lot of consultation, a lot of negotiation and at the end of the day, we are all going to have to wake up to the reality that the Arctic needs securing against China and Russia.

US President Donald Trump looks on during a meeting with US oil companies executives in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC on January 9, 2026. President Trump is aiming to convince oil executives to support his plans in Venezuela, a country whose energy resources he says he expects to control for years to come. US forces seized Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro in a sweeping military operation on January 3, with Trump making no secret that control of Venezuela's oil was at the heart of his actions. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty Images) Trump has repeatedly said the US wants to take over Greenland (Picture: AFP)

‘And if you ask me who is going to lead in that effort to secure, we all know, don’t we, that it’s going to be the United States.’

Liberal Democrats leader Sir Ed Davey supported the operation, telling reporters: ‘The UK should offer to send troops to Greenland as part of a joint Nato operation under Danish and UK command.

‘If Trump is serious about security, he’d agree to participate and drop his outrageous threats. Tearing the Nato alliance apart would only play into the hands of Putin.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected].

For more stories like this, check our news page.

Arrow MORE: Museum removes plaque for Trump portrait which mentioned two impeachments

Arrow MORE: Donald Trump snubbed again for Nobel Peace Prize – despite best efforts

Arrow MORE: Fashion student, 23, shot in head just one of more than 500 killed in Iran protests

Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source News Updates

Stay on top of the headlines with daily email updates.

Email I agree to receive newsletters from Metro I agree to receive newsletters from Metro Sign UpSign Up

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy

Related Articles