Lammy shrugs off sabre-rattling over Greenland and Panama canal saying US president-elect is ‘amplifying’ rhetoric for impact

David Lammy has shrugged off Donald Trump’s sabre-rattling over Greenland and the Panama canal saying it is ‘classic’ tactics.

The Foreign Secretary suggested Mr Trump was ‘amplifying’ his positions on ‘serious’ national security issues. 

Asked in a round of interviews if he would follow Germany and the US in protesting about the US president-elect not ruling out military or economic action to achieve his goal, Mr Lammy insisted he was ‘not in the business of condemning our closest ally’.

During a press conference this week, Mr Trump suggested the US could annex the Panama Canal and Greenland, which he claimed were at risk from the influence of Russia and China.

He also suggested Canada could be forced to merge with the US through the use of ‘economic force’.

The Foreign Secretary suggested Mr Trump was ‘amplifying’ his positions on ‘serious’ national security issues

The comments have drawn widespread condemnation from Canada and Germany, while the French foreign minister complained that Mr Trump was attempting to interfere with the sovereignty of an EU member state. Greenland is an autonomous territory of Denmark.

Downing Street declined to comment on Mr Trump’s remarks, and said the Government was looking forward to working with the incoming American administration.

But asked on Sky News for his reaction, Mr Lammy said: ‘I do think it’s classic Donald Trump… 

‘Look, I think that what sits behind Donald Trump is he’s just won an election. 

‘Seventy-seven million people voted for him, up in nearly all classifications, including, by the way, African Americans and Latinos. 

‘He came in very clearly, saying he was going to work for working people, and he sees Americans national economic security as centering that. 

‘That is why he’s raising issues in relation to the Panama Canal and, I suspect, to Greenland. 

‘He always amplifies that and does it at its strongest intensity, but sitting behind that are actually quite serious national security and economic issues.’

Challenged that France and German politicians had felt the need to ‘speak out’, Mr Lammy said: ‘I suspect the difference in Germany is that they’re fighting an election. 

‘We’re not in election season here. We fought an election. 

‘What sits behind those comments are issues of national security.

‘Panama Canal, he’s raised issues around China’s influence. I think those are legitimate issues, actually. 

‘But of course, we raise those sorts of issues here in the UK. 

‘The issues around Greenland have been raised before. In the end, that is up to the people of Greenland and their own self determination. 

‘And there is a discussion within Greenland about those very same issues. 

Asked about Mr Trump not ruling out military or economic force, Mr Lammy said: ‘Well, that’s the amplification of the intensity of the rhetoric, but let’s be clear, no NATO countries have gone to war since the establishment of NATO, and I don’t envisage that. 

Mr Lammy added: ‘I’m not in the business of condemning our closest ally. I am in the business of interpreting what sits behind this, and there are some very serious national economic security issues. 

During a press conference this week, Mr Trump suggested the US could annex the Panama Canal and Greenland (pictured), which he claimed were at risk from the influence of Russia and China

‘That’s the basis on which Donald Trump has won his election. 

‘And let me just say he is saying in America that his number number one issue is growth, and his second issue is migration. 

‘Guess what? We’re saying the same thing here in the UK, under our government. So we can find common cause on these issues.’

Mr Lammy told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: ‘I think that we know from Donald Trump’s first term that the intensity of his rhetoric and the unpredictability sometimes of what he said can be destabilising.

‘He did it with Nato. But in fact, in practice, he sent more troops to Europe under his administration. He sent the first javelins and weapons to Ukraine under his administration.’