UK Prime Minister Starmer Rebukes Trump’s Greenland Tariff Strategy as Transatlantic Tensions Rise
Starmer tells President Trump that threatening tariffs on NATO allies over Greenland is ‘completely wrong’ amid escalating dispute over US ambitions for the Arctic territory
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has delivered a firm diplomatic rebuke to President Donald Trump, declaring that the imposition of tariffs on the United Kingdom and other NATO allies over their opposition to US designs on Greenland is “completely wrong” and risks undermining collective security.
The United States announced plans to levy a ten percent tariff from February first on goods from eight European countries, including Britain, Denmark, France, Germany, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands and Finland, escalating to twenty-five percent by June unless a purchase agreement for Greenland is concluded.
The UK leader conveyed his position in direct calls with Mr Trump, as well as with the prime minister of Denmark, the president of the European Commission and the secretary general of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, underscoring that the future of Greenland remains a matter for its people and for the Kingdom of Denmark.
Starmer emphasised the importance of Arctic security for NATO allies and rejected the notion that applying punitive trade measures on partners engaged in collective defence efforts was ever justified, calling instead for continued dialogue and cooperation on shared security priorities.
His intervention follows sustained European resistance to Mr Trump’s unprecedented bid to acquire Greenland — a semi-autonomous Danish territory — and the subsequent deployment of NATO forces under Operation Arctic Endurance to reassure Greenland’s sovereignty.
Across the UK political spectrum, leaders from Conservative, Reform and Liberal Democrat parties have joined in denouncing the tariff threats, while Danish and other European officials have reiterated that Greenland is not for sale and that its destiny should be determined by its inhabitants.
The dispute has stirred deep concern over the future of transatlantic relations, with European institutions hinting at possible trade counter-measures should the United States proceed with its tariff escalation, even as Starmer seeks to balance robust defence of allied sovereignty with sustained strategic engagement with Washington.
The United States announced plans to levy a ten percent tariff from February first on goods from eight European countries, including Britain, Denmark, France, Germany, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands and Finland, escalating to twenty-five percent by June unless a purchase agreement for Greenland is concluded.
The UK leader conveyed his position in direct calls with Mr Trump, as well as with the prime minister of Denmark, the president of the European Commission and the secretary general of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, underscoring that the future of Greenland remains a matter for its people and for the Kingdom of Denmark.
Starmer emphasised the importance of Arctic security for NATO allies and rejected the notion that applying punitive trade measures on partners engaged in collective defence efforts was ever justified, calling instead for continued dialogue and cooperation on shared security priorities.
His intervention follows sustained European resistance to Mr Trump’s unprecedented bid to acquire Greenland — a semi-autonomous Danish territory — and the subsequent deployment of NATO forces under Operation Arctic Endurance to reassure Greenland’s sovereignty.
Across the UK political spectrum, leaders from Conservative, Reform and Liberal Democrat parties have joined in denouncing the tariff threats, while Danish and other European officials have reiterated that Greenland is not for sale and that its destiny should be determined by its inhabitants.
The dispute has stirred deep concern over the future of transatlantic relations, with European institutions hinting at possible trade counter-measures should the United States proceed with its tariff escalation, even as Starmer seeks to balance robust defence of allied sovereignty with sustained strategic engagement with Washington.
