UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has told US President Donald Trump that threatening tariffs on Nato allies to secure Greenland is wrong, during a series of diplomatic calls on Sunday. Starmer spoke with Trump, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte to address the escalating crisis.
A Downing Street summary said the prime minister reiterated that security in the high north is a priority for all Nato allies, and that applying tariffs on allies for pursuing collective security is wrong. Trump has threatened 10% tariffs from 1 February on eight European nations, including the UK, rising to 25% if a deal for Greenland is not reached by 1 June.
Starmer is set to make an emergency statement on Monday to express the UK's disappointment, lining up with European opposition. He is not expected to call for retaliatory tariffs but will stress the importance of UK-US ties. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy confirmed the UK's position that Greenland's future is for its people and Denmark to decide, calling the tariff decision 'completely wrong'.
The Liberal Democrats have called for an emergency Commons debate and scrapping a pharmaceuticals deal, while some Labour MPs urge a more pro-Europe stance. Downing Street hopes Starmer's unexpectedly good relationship with Trump may help de-escalate the situation.
