Keir Starmer has told Donald Trump that threatening tariffs against Nato allies to secure Greenland is wrong, as the UK prime minister joined a flurry of diplomatic calls to address the crisis. Starmer spoke to the US president on Sunday, as well as to Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte.
A Downing Street summary of the calls said Starmer reiterated that security in the high north is a priority for all Nato allies to protect Euro-Atlantic interests. He also stated that applying tariffs on allies for pursuing collective security is wrong. The firm stance risks a collision with the US after Trump announced sanctions on eight European nations, including the UK, for deploying troops to Greenland.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy refused to discuss retaliatory tariffs, saying the aim is serious private talks rather than a war of words. She confirmed the UK's position on Greenland is non-negotiable and that the future of Greenland is for its people and Denmark alone. Every major UK party, including Nigel Farage's Reform UK, has condemned Trump's threat to impose tariffs starting at 10% on 1 February and rising to 25% by 1 June if a deal for Greenland is not reached.
Starmer, who has cultivated a surprisingly good relationship with Trump, is expected to stress the importance of UK-US ties at an emergency Downing Street press conference on Monday. He will not push for reciprocal tariffs, with officials hoping the White House will climb down. The Liberal Democrats are calling for an emergency Commons debate, while some Labour MPs favour a more pro-European stance.
