LONDON 

The British premier is considering the deployment of troops to Greenland to ease US President Donald Trump’s security fears amid ongoing talks between European allies, according to media reports citing sources.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer is considering the possible deployment of troops to the autonomous Danish territory as Trump insists on his bid to gain control of the strategic Arctic territory over the growing presence of Russia and China, The Independent reported on Monday.

According to Downing Street sources quoted by the paper, Starmer shares Trump’s view that Russia’s "growing aggression" in the High North must be deterred, and Euro-Atlantic security strengthened.

The sources said the prime minister takes the threats from Russia and China in the region "extremely seriously."

Meanwhile, The Telegraph reported on Saturday that European allies are in talks to deploy troops to counter this growing threat.

Downing Street is in talks with European allies about deploying a military force to the Danish territory as military chiefs are drawing up plans for a possible NATO mission on the island, according to the newspaper.

British officials recently met counterparts from countries including Germany and France to start the preparations.

The report suggested that the plans, which are still at an early stage, could involve UK soldiers, warships and planes being deployed to protect Greenland.

"It could be a full-blown troop deployment or a combination of time-limited exercises, intelligence sharing, capability development and rerouted defence spending," according to the sources cited.

On Friday, the leaders of Greenland’s political parties reiterated their opposition to joining the US, saying: "We do not want to be Americans, we do not want to be Danes, we want to be Greenlanders."

Speaking on Friday, Trump said: "We are going to do something on Greenland, whether they like it or not, because if we don’t do it, Russia or China will take over Greenland, and we’re not going to have Russia or China as a neighbor."

Greenland, an autonomous territory, has attracted US interest due to its strategic location and vast mineral resources.

Trump previously described owning Greenland as an "absolute necessity" for US economic security, likening it to a "large real estate deal."

Both Denmark and Greenland have rejected any proposals to sell the territory, reaffirming Danish sovereignty over the island.  Anadolu Agency