Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has issued a rallying cry for national unity and calm diplomacy in response to what he termed "completely wrong" threats from former US President Donald Trump to invade Greenland and impose punitive tariffs on the United Kingdom.
Downing Street's Emergency Response
In an emergency address from the media briefing room in Downing Street on Monday, 19 January 2026, Sir Keir urged the country to pull together. The crisis was triggered by Mr Trump's declaration that he would charge the UK a 10% tariff "on any and all goods" from 1 February, escalating to 25% from 1 June. This economic pressure, Trump stated, would continue until a deal is reached for Washington to purchase Greenland from Denmark.
The same tariffs would apply to several NATO allies, including Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Finland. Notably, Mr Trump has not ruled out military action to annex the strategically vital Arctic territory, which is a semi-autonomous part of the Kingdom of Denmark.
A Call for Diplomatic Resolution
Sir Keir firmly rejected the premise of using tariffs or force against allies. "The use of tariffs against allies is completely wrong," he stated. "It is not the right way to resolve differences within an alliance, nor is it helpful to frame efforts to strengthen Greenland security as a justification for economic pressure."
He emphasised that the dispute must be settled through "calm discussion between allies" and asserted that "any decision about the future status of Greenland belongs to the people of Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark alone."
The Prime Minister signalled that Britain would not engage in a retaliatory trade war, insisting such an approach would be counterproductive. He also suggested he did not believe Mr Trump was genuinely prepared to use the US military to annex Greenland.
Cross-Party Support and Diplomatic Blitz
In a show of political solidarity, Sir Keir welcomed the support of Leader of the Opposition Kemi Badenoch. The gravity of the situation was underscored by the presence of high-profile Cabinet ministers at the announcement, including Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper. Both cancelled prior engagements to attend.
The Prime Minister has been engaged in a flurry of diplomatic calls, speaking directly with Mr Trump on Sunday to condemn the trade war threats. He also consulted with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. Sir Keir confirmed he would speak to the US president again "in the coming days."
Shadow Defence Secretary James Cartlidge labelled Trump's actions "totally unacceptable," while Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey branded them "economic thuggery" and called for a coordinated European tariff response.
Sir Keir concluded by reaffirming Britain's position of not choosing between its US and European alliances, a stance he said had served the nation well for decades. The UK government continues to monitor the situation closely as international tensions rise.
