Exclusive:Scots MPs urge Keir Starmer to stand up to Donald Trump on Greenland

SNP MP Brendan O’Hara warned the Prime Minister that “staying silent” would be “allowing ourselves to be taken down a very dangerous path."

Labour MP Brian Leishman warned that “Trump will not stop” and that the UK “has to take a stand against this aggression.”

Mr Trump has said that he wants to take the Danish autonomous territory for national security reasons.

US officials have suggested they could use “military means” to take it over.

It comes after the US removed Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro from power last week.

Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber MP Mr O’Hara - who is also the chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Greenland - said: "The escalating threats against Greenland need to stop.

"Across the board, the UK Government has chosen to take a softly-softly approach with the Trump administration but people will rightly expect that Keir Starmer won't stand by and stay silent as Trump tries to bully his way into a land grab.

"That united and strong message should come from every European leader and every country across our continent.

"It is clear that the future of Greenland is a matter for the Greenlandic people - that principle, that self-determined right and that future must be protected.

"If Europe stands by, stands aside and stays silent in the face of blatant diplomatic bullying - we are consciously allowing ourselves to be taken down a very dangerous path."

The island of Greenland, 80 per cent of which lies above the Arctic Circle, is home to about 56,000 mostly Inuit people.

Alloa and Grangemouth MP Mr Leishman said: “What we have seen happen in Venezuela is pure American imperialism. It’s not about a war on drugs. It’s all about America asserting its power and influence in the Western Hemisphere and taking control of other nations resources.

“The UK, and largely the wider international communities response to the US launching a military operation in another sovereign country and kidnapping their President has been beyond weak and has left the rules based international order in tatters.

“Trump will not stop. Greenland, Panama, Mexico have all been threatened.

“The UK, if it has any pretensions of being some sort of world power has to take a stand against this aggression. We must stand on the side of what’s right and it’s clear - Trumps actions are a danger to global security.”

Downing Street said on Wednesday evening that Sir Keir “set out his position on Greenland” in a phone call with Mr Trump - but it did not provide further detail on his comments.

The Prime Minister has repeatedly said the territory’s future must be a matter for Greenland and Denmark alone, including in the Commons earlier on Wednesday.

The row over Greenland has cast a shadow over relations between the US and Europe, with Denmark’s prime minister warning that a US takeover would spell the end of the Nato alliance.

US secretary of state Marco Rubio had earlier said Mr Trump was examining how to “acquire Greenland”, suggesting the US could offer to buy the territory but adding it “retains the option” to use force.

The UK Government was approached for comment.