Prime Minister Keir Starmer has told US President Donald Trump that threatening tariffs on NATO allies to secure Greenland is wrong. In 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.
A Downing Street summary said Starmer 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. The UK is expected to fully align with European opposition to Trump's plan, with Starmer set to give an emergency statement on Monday.
Trump has threatened to impose 10% tariffs from 1 February on eight European nations, including the UK, rising to 25% if a deal to buy Greenland is not reached. The affected countries issued a joint statement saying the threats undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral.
Every major UK party has condemned the tariffs, including Reform UK. The Liberal Democrats are pushing for an emergency Commons debate, while some Labour MPs want a more overtly pro-European stance. However, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy ruled out retaliatory tariffs, saying the UK would not start a war of words and that the future of Greenland is for its people and Denmark to decide.
Starmer has maintained a good relationship with Trump, which officials hope could help de-escalate the situation. The UK has previously avoided some US tariffs, but the prime minister faces pressure to push back harder against the White House.
