Keir Starmer has told Donald Trump that threatening tariffs against NATO allies to secure Greenland is wrong, as European leaders scramble to protect Danish territory. The UK prime minister held a phone call with the US president on Sunday, alongside discussions with Danish PM Mette Frederiksen, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
A Downing Street summary confirmed Starmer reiterated that applying tariffs on allies for pursuing collective security is wrong. The firm stance places Starmer on a potential collision course with the US, which has threatened sanctions on eight European nations, including the UK, for deploying troops to Greenland.
On Monday, Starmer is set to use an emergency Downing Street statement to express the UK’s disappointment at the tariff threat, aligning the UK firmly with European opposition. He is not expected to push for retaliatory measures but will stress the importance of maintaining ties with the US.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy stated the UK’s position on Greenland is non-negotiable, affirming that the future of Greenland is for its people and Denmark to determine. She emphasised that the UK has been consistent in expressing this view to the US administration.
