Burnham hails Greenland deal ahead of expected first Trump meeting

Denmark and the US have agreed to strengthen security in the Arctic after a months-long feud over Greenland.

The deal, which was announced on Sunday, would give Denmark 'permanent control over security' in the semi-autonomous Danish territory in the Arctic.

Trump had previously threatened to take Greenland over national security concerns, citing its strategic location for defence purposes and mineral wealth.

Nato welcomed the agreement as it would help stabilise the region and recognise the sovereignty of Denmark and Greenland.

The deal comes ahead of Trump's first meeting with Burnham at the UN General Assembly in New York this week.

While Burnham praised the agreement, Lib Dem leader Ed Davey called it a 'pretend' victory for Trump.

Andy Burnham has hailed a deal between Denmark and the US to 'strengthen security in the Arctic' after the two countries resolved a months-long feud over Greenland.

The UK prime minister and his Danish counterpart Mette Frederiksen 'welcomed the US's commitment to the region' in a call on Sunday morning, Downing Street said.

Nato previously said the agreement would help stabilise the region, while Trump declared Denmark would grant the US 'permanent control over security, and all other needs' in the semi-autonomous Danish territory in the Arctic.

Burnham's comments come as he is expected to meet Trump for the first time at the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York this week.

Nato welcomes Greenland deal as Trump says it will give US 'permanent security control'

The agreement comes after months of threats by Trump to 'take' Greenland over national security concerns, citing its strategic Arctic location for defence purposes as well as its mineral wealth.

No text of the agreement has been released, but Trump said in a Truth Social post that the deal came with 'no cost to the United States' and meant it could 'do what is necessary' to 'secure and defend the security of Greenland'.

He said it included a rule that no US adversary could maintain a military presence in Greenland or 'make sensitive investments in Greenland, without our express written approval'.

A No 10 spokesperson said in a readout of Sunday's phone call that Burnham and Frederiksen 'welcomed the US's commitment to the region and underlined the strategic and shared importance of the High North for Euro-Atlantic security'.

The spokesperson added: 'The prime minister congratulated Prime Minister Frederiksen and the Kingdom of Denmark on negotiating a deal benefiting the US, Greenland and Denmark, and said he would pass on his congratulations to President Trump. '

While Burnham praised the agreement, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey called it a 'pretend' victory and a nearly identical to the existing agreement.

Greenlanders protested against Trump's ambitions for the territory in the country's capital, Nuuk, earlier this year