Keir Starmer is walking a tightrope between the US and the EU as he desperately tries not to take sides in Donald Trump's trade war. The PM hosted Danish PM Mette Frederiksen for dinner in No10 on Tuesday, with European security and migration at the top of the agenda. But the meeting came under the cloud of a diplomatic row over Mr Trump’s claims he wants to take control of Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory.

Downing Street insisted the Prime Minister is not interested in being a go-between for Denmark and the US over the issue. Asked if he was "keen to become an interlocutor", the Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "No." The spokesman refused to comment on whether the UK would stand in solidarity with Denmark if the US threatens its territorial integrity. But speaking after the meeting, Ms Frederiksen said the UK had agreed to work closely with Denmark on security of the Arctic region, including Greenland.

Asked if she had the PM's support on Greenland, she said: "I consider the UK as one of our biggest and most important allies, and he is a close friend and colleague to me and to Denmark. "We have agreed tonight that we will work closely together on the Arctic region and the need for ensuring the security environment in what we call the High North, including Greenland and the Arctic region in general. So it was a very good meeting, and not only looking at the Arctic region, we have agreed to work closer together on defence and deterrence and on the different security issues that are surrounding us in these years.".

Downing Street said the leaders discussed the need for a closer UK and EU relationship through growth, and defence and security cooperation. A No10 spokesman said: “Both agreed on the need to strengthen European defence capabilities, including through NATO. “Turning to security in the High North and Arctic region, the Prime Minister paid tribute to the important role Denmark was playing and welcomed their recent announcement of a new military package to defend the Arctic from hostile activity. Both leaders agreed to step up joint cooperation to address threats in the Arctic and High North, working with allies through NATO and JEF Partners.”.

The leaders also discussed the need to support Ukraine and the challenges of illegal migration. Earlier, Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey called for Mr Starmer to express "total solidarity" with Denmark. "Donald Trump's attempts to bully Denmark over Greenland are totally unacceptable and must be called out for what they are," he said. "I hope Keir Starmer will express the UK's total solidarity in his meeting with the Danish Prime Minister.".

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NEWSLETTER: Or sign up here to the Mirror's Politics newsletter for all the best exclusives and opinions straight to your inbox. PODCAST: And listen to our exciting new political podcast The Division Bell, hosted by the Mirror and the Express every Thursday. Mr Starmer has said the UK does not need to pick sides between Mr Trump's new administration and Europe but this stance is being tested. The US President threatened earlier this week to impose trade tariffs on both the EU and the UK, which could drive up prices for ordinary Brits. However Mr Trump suggested there was a deal to be done with Britain, and has since allowed a 30-day pause on his tariff threats against Mexico and Canada.

It comes as the PM’s chief Brexit negotiator Nick Thomas-Symonds said the UK is gunning for an ambitious outcome to “reset” talks by a summit on May 19. “The time for ideologically-driven division is over - the time for ruthless pragmatism is now,” he said in a speech in Brussels. Labour is looking to improve the botched Brexit deal agreed by the Tories. But Reform UK and the Conservatives are piling pressure on the Government not to give any ground to Brussels.