Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has sidestepped questions on whether King Charles III's anticipated state visit to the United States in April could be cancelled, as diplomatic tensions escalate over former President Donald Trump's aggressive tariff threats.
Tariff Threats Over Greenland Dispute
The crisis stems from President Trump's reaction to opposition from the UK, Denmark, and other European nations to a proposed American takeover of Greenland. In retaliation, Trump has threatened to impose a 10 per cent tariff on "any and all goods" sent from the UK to the US, effective from 1 February 2026. This punitive levy is slated to rise to a staggering 25 per cent from 1 June, and would remain in place until Washington secures a deal to purchase Greenland from Denmark.
This move has thrown the planned high-profile diplomacy into disarray. The King's trip, reported by The Times, was intended to be a cornerstone of efforts to revitalise a UK-US trade agreement, especially after promised investments from American tech firms were paused.
Political Pressure and Diplomatic Warnings
The Liberal Democrats leader, Sir Ed Davey, has urged a firm response. On social media, he stated: "The PM must tell Trump in no uncertain terms: if he goes ahead with these outrageous tariffs and keeps bullying Greenland, there’ll be no state visit to the US in April." He argued the UK must not act as a "doormat for an extortionist."
Speaking at an emergency press conference on Monday 19 January, Prime Minister Starmer condemned the use of tariffs against allies as "completely wrong" and "not the right way to resolve differences with an alliance." He firmly rejected the notion of retaliatory tariffs, stating that a trade war is "in no one’s interest."
A Monarch's Delicate Role
When pressed on whether he would advise the King against travelling, Sir Keir emphasised the critical importance of continued cooperation with the US on defence, intelligence, and security, which "requires us to have a good relationship with the United States." He added, however, that this did not mean pretending the two nations agreed on everything.
"There is a principle here that cannot be set aside," Sir Keir asserted, highlighting that the future of Greenland "belongs to the people of Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark alone."
The potential state visit carries significant symbolic weight, as it would coincide with the 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence. It would mark the first such visit by a British monarch since Queen Elizabeth II travelled at the invitation of President George W. Bush in 2007.
King Charles has previously been seen as a stabilising force in UK-US relations. Trump's unprecedented second state visit to the UK in September last year was widely interpreted as an effort to smooth relations ahead of his return to the White House. Trump has often expressed admiration for the Royal Family, recalling his mother's fascination with the Queen's 1953 coronation.
Buckingham Palace has declined to comment on the reported plans, noting that any state visit would be undertaken at the government's request and announced through official channels. The decision now rests at the intersection of high-stakes diplomacy, economic pressure, and constitutional protocol.
