Andy Burnham congratulates Donald Trump and Mette Frederiksen on Greenland deal

Andy Burnham has congratulated Denmark and the US on a deal to “strengthen security in the Arctic” after the two countries reached an agreement over Greenland ending a months-long diplomatic standoff.

The 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.

It comes as Mr Burnham prepares to meet Donald Trump in person for the first time at the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York next week, marking one of the most significant diplomatic moments since he entered No 10 in July.

The US president said he had secured an agreement with Denmark that gives America “permanent control over security, and all other needs, in Greenland, completely addressing all of our many US concerns”.

The White House administration will “immediately” begin the process of developing a larger military presence on the mineral-rich Danish territory, he added.

Denmark confirmed the deal will be signed at UNGA by all three governments next week, but parliamentary action is still needed by the Danish and Greenland administrations before it can be enforced.

In a readout of Sunday’s talks, a No 10 spokesperson said Mr Burnham and Ms Frederiksen had discussed the new agreement “to strengthen security in the Arctic and the North Atlantic area between the US, Greenland and Denmark this week.”

“They welcomed the US’s commitment to the region and underlined the strategic and shared importance of the High North for Euro-Atlantic security,” the statement said.

“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.”

Andy Burnham will come face to face with Donald Trump next week

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Downing Street said Mr Burnham had expressed his intention to use UNGA to “drive forward work on issues that matter to people at home” including the cost of living, as well as making progress on stepping up support for Ukraine.

Earlier on Sunday, Labour chairwoman Bridget Phillipson dismissed suggestions the Prime Minister’s encounter with the US president could prove awkward in light of his past criticism of Mr Trump.

She said remarks including his 2021 assertion that “any politician who gave Trump the time of day should be ashamed right now” were “politics” and “no bar to having a strong relationship”.

In 2017, the former Greater Manchester mayor said the US leader would not be welcome in the city and following the January 6 Capitol riots in 2021 he criticised politicians who had engaged with him.

Mr Burnham has spoken to Mr Trump at least twice since entering No 10 and insisted he would find “common ground” and “find a connection” with the president.

The US leader described the Prime Minister as “a very nice guy” last week, echoing some of his positive comments about Sir Keir Starmer during the early stages of his premiership.

Relations between the White House and Sir Keir’s government later became increasingly strained over the Iran conflict and disagreements about Mr Trump’s threats to annex Greenland.

Ms Phillipson said the Government would remain pragmatic in its dealings with Washington but conceded the war in the Middle East would pose challenges at the Budget next month.

Bridget Phillipson described Andy Burnham’s 2021 remarks about Donald Trump as ‘politics’ (PA)

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Asked about the impact of the president’s decisions on the autumn statement, she said: “Well the economy is in a strong position, we’ve seen already in the first half of this year we’re the strongest growing economy in the G7.

“We’ve stabilised the public finances and I think people can feel a sense of hope and optimism about the future that lies ahead, but that’s not to take away from the very real challenges that you identify, particularly when it comes to the conflict we’ve seen in the Middle East and the impact that’s been having on businesses and families close to home.”

She added: “We do see the consequences here at home.

“And as we go into the Budget, making sure that we are doing everything we can to give people that breathing space to tackle those challenges around the cost of living has been at the forefront of everything that Andy Burnham has done since becoming Prime Minister.

“And I know it’s at the forefront of the Chancellor’s mind as he’s planning for that Budget later on next month.”

Liberal Democrats leader Sir Ed Davey, an outspoken critic of the US president, urged the Prime Minister to take a firmer line in his dealings with the White House.

Liberal Democrats leader Sir Ed Davey said Mr Trump needs to be stood up to (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

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“There is a danger that the new prime minister could be Keir Starmer, but with just better social media, that’s not going to help anybody, is it? We need to see some teeth in his relationship with the White House,” he told the Press Association.

“I want him to stand up to Trump. It’s really clear that’s the only language the president respects.”

He said he wanted the Prime Minister to deliver “tough messages” to the US leader, adding: “I think the UK should do what the Europeans are doing, what the Canadians are doing, and start saying to Donald Trump, ‘the way you’re treating our country, the way you’re treating the world, is not acceptable’.”