RAF and Navy in talks to join Trump-blocking NATO forces in Greenland as relations sour

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Forces from the RAF and Navy could be dispatched to Greenland to reassure Donald Trump Europe can defend itself, it has emerged.

Sea and air reconnaissance units – including Boeing P8 Poseidon maritime aircraft, used by the RAF – could be deployed to the island, which the Orange Manbaby wants to annex.

Military delegations from eight Nato countries – including a military officer from the UK – flew to Greenland last week on a fact-finding mission to explore options as European allies attempt shore up security in the Arctic.

Norway, Germany and the UK are the only countries other than the US to have P8s, working closely on joint surveillance missions, including to monitor Vladimir Putin’s “shadow fleet” of sanctioned oil tankers as well as Russian submarines.

With discussions ongoing, UK surveillance units from the Royal Air Force and Navy could join a “tripwire” of troops stationed in Greenland to ease Trump’s fears that the territory could fall into the hands of China or Russia, the i Paper reported on Tuesday night.

He believes the United States being given control of the territory is the only way to stop them claiming the island.

It comes after Denmark signalled that last week’s mission was a precursor for a “more permanent military presence” on the island, with Nato countries participating on a rotating basis.

Danish troops have already arrived in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, with around 100 soldiers arriving at the island’s international airport in in Kangerlussuaq on Monday evening.

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