UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Wes Streeting says Prime Minister Keir Starmer prioritises UK-US ties while warning President Trump not to destabilise NATO amid Greenland and Venezuela threats.
As reported by Millie Cooke of The Independent, Health Secretary Wes Streeting suggested the government may prioritise UK-US ties with President Trump over defending the global rules-based system.
What did Wes Streeting say about Keir Starmer’s approach to Donald Trump and NATO?
Wes Streeting said the Prime Minister ensures that he
“uses his influence and leverage in a way that, first and foremost, works to our national interest… then for the collective interest as well of our global security and the rules-based system.”
He said Sir Keir Starmer, who has faced criticism over his closeness to the Republican president, carefully considers his words and timing in managing UK-US relations.
The US president continues to escalate threats to annex Greenland following a raid on Caracas and the capture of Venezuela’s president.
During an interview, when questioned on the UK’s position, the Health Secretary replied,
“What you’ve seen from the prime minister and the foreign secretary, not just in relation to the fast-moving events in Venezuela, but more generally when it comes to our relationship with the United States, and actually diplomacy and foreign policy more generally, the prime minister chooses what to say, how to say it, and when to say it, very carefully.”
Mr Streeting said,
“And what he always has at the forefront of his mind is, how does he make sure that he uses his influence and leverage in a way that first and foremost, works to our national interest, whether economic interest or security interest, and then for the collective interest as well of our global security and the rules-based system, which we’ve seen disintegrating before our eyes.”
Asked about the need for European leaders to handle comments on President Trump carefully, he replied,
“There are some countries, indeed, there are some colleagues, who are out stridently criticising the United States and their action. The UK has a different relationship, and the prime minister has unique leverage and influence, and he’s sought to bring that to bear consistently. And I would argue, effectively to pursue our interests.”
The Health Secretary warned the US president against actions in Venezuela and Greenland, stressing that now is “not the time to destabilise NATO” or undermine collective security.
When asked about President Trump’s ongoing threats to Greenland, Mr Streeting said Britain and NATO are committed to supporting Greenland’s sovereignty and its role in the alliance.
He added,
“The good news for President Trump is that Greenland is already part of the team and is playing its part in defending our national security as the UK and our collective security.”
The Health Secretary continued,
“At a time when we can see the security of Nato members and the Alliance at threat, particularly from Russia, but also from our other adversaries, this is not the time to destabilise Nato and to undermine our collective security. We’re really clear about where we stand. We’re really clear with the United States about where we stand on Greenland.”
The government faces growing criticism from its own MPs, who are urging Sir Keir to speak out against recent US actions.
How did Labour MPs respond to the government’s stance on US actions in Venezuela?
Labour MP Dame Emily Thornberry said the government should publicly defend international law, which relies on global agreements.
She added,
“And so if one country does something and its close allies say nothing about it, then the implication is, ‘well, that’s okay, I can carry on behaving like that.’”
Speaking in the Commons, chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, told the Commons the Venezuela intervention must be called out by Britain and its Western partners.
Labour MP Nadia Whittome called the UK response “shameful,” while Steve Witherden described President Trump’s actions as “American gangsterism” and criticised the government’s reaction as inadequate.
On Tuesday in Paris, Sir Keir will join French President Macron and around 30 Ukraine-supporting nations for a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing. The discussions aim to maintain momentum for the US-backed Ukraine peace plan, while leaders are also expected to address President Trump’s actions in Venezuela, balancing US support with international concerns.
What did Donald Trump say about annexing Greenland?
President Trump has once again suggested bringing Greenland under US control, despite Denmark warning him to halt the threats.
He suggested that Greenland is essential for US security, while repeatedly raising the prospect of annexing the semi-autonomous Danish territory, citing its strategic location and mineral wealth.
Jens Frederik Nielsen, Greenland’s Prime Minister, called the idea of US control a “fantasy” and said, “that’s enough now.”
He added,
“No more pressure. No more insinuations. No more fantasies of annexation. We are open to dialogue. We are open to discussions. But this must happen through the proper channels and with respect for international law.”
Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said the US has no right to annex any of the three nations in the Danish kingdom.
She added that Denmark, including Greenland, is protected by NATO and covered under the alliance’s security guarantees.
When did the US attack Venezuela and capture President Maduro?
On January 3, 2026, US forces conducted a nighttime operation in Caracas, codenamed “Operation Absolute Resolve,” capturing President Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores and flying them to the US.
US officials described the action as a law enforcement operation, stating that President Maduro was a fugitive indicted for drug trafficking, narco-terrorism, and arms violations, and accused him of running a criminal state that supplied drugs to the Americans.
After the military operation, President Maduro was removed from power and taken into US custody to face trial, while Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez assumed the role of acting president, with Caracas denouncing the action as an illegal kidnapping.
The operation sparked an international divide, with Russia, China, Iran, and Cuba condemning it as a violation of international law and Venezuelan sovereignty, while Argentina, Peru, Ecuador, and Panama expressed support, viewing it as a victory for democracy.
Opponents of the operation claim that access to Venezuela’s massive oil reserves was the main motive, with legal reasoning used to disguise an act of resource imperialism.
Why does Trump want Greenland?
President Trump said the US needs Greenland for national security, citing concerns over Russian and Chinese naval activity. The territory serves as a strategic point for tracking submarines and hosts the Pituffik Space Base, vital to US missile defense systems.
He has dismissed minerals as a primary motive, while Greenland holds vast rare earth and critical mineral deposits, which could help the US secure supply chains and reduce reliance on competitors like China.
The US interest in Greenland reflects its strategic role in the Arctic, as Russia and China expand their military and economic presence, with control of the island giving the US a leading position in the region.
