Keir Starmer stands up to Trump over Greenland tariff threat
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Sir Keir Starmer has told Donald Trump that forcing tariffs on NATO allies unless Greenland comes under US control is wrong.
It comes after the US president said he would charge the UK a 10% tariff ‘on any and all goods’ sent to the US from February 1, increased to 25% from June 1, until a deal is reached for Washington to purchase Greenland from Denmark.
He said the same would apply to Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Finland.
Sir Keir held a flurry of calls on Sunday afternoon, including with the US president, No 10 said.
A Downing Street spokeswoman said: ‘In all his calls, the Prime Minister reiterated his position on Greenland.
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‘He said that security in the High North is a priority for all Nato allies in order to protect Euro-Atlantic interests.
‘He also said that applying tariffs on allies for pursuing the collective security of Nato allies is wrong.’
Mr Trump appeared to take issue with a Danish-led military exercise conducted with allies in Greenland this week, saying the countries had ‘journeyed to Greenland, for purposes unknown’.
The UK sent a single military officer for the Arctic endurance exercise.
The UK and other affected countries earlier stressed that it was planned.
They said: ‘As members of Nato, we are committed to strengthening Arctic security as a shared transatlantic interest.
‘The pre-coordinated Danish exercise Arctic Endurance conducted with Allies, responds to this necessity.
‘It poses no threat to anyone.’
It came as thousands of Greenlandersdeclared their home is ‘not for sale’ in a mass protest.
A huge crowd of angry locals held signs and waved their national flag in the capital Nuuk, just as the US President announced he would impose tariffs on the UK and European allies over their Greenland stance.
Trump said yesterday he would place 10% tariffs on several European countries, including the UK, until he was able to buy the Danish territory.
One 21-year-old resident, Malik Dollerup-Scheibel, heard the news and said: ‘I thought this day couldn’t get any worse, but it just did.
‘It just shows he has no remorse for any kind of human being now.’
Nearly a quarter of the Arctic city’s 20,000-strong population turned up to demonstrate against Trump’s threats to Greenland, while other rallies were also held around the territory.
Mum Marie Pedersen, 47, brought her children to the march to ‘show them that they’re allowed to speak up’.
“We want to keep our own country and our own culture, and our family safe,” she said.
Her nine-year-old daughter, Alaska, held her own ‘Greenland is not for sale’ placard.
The girl said her teachers had been teaching them about Nato at school as they addressed the controversy.
The US President has long declared his intention to seize the mineral-rich self-governing Danish territory, saying the region is crucial for US national security.
Trump ratcheted up the language on Saturday, writing on his Truth Social page: ‘We have subsidized Denmark, and all of the Countries of the European Union, and others, for many years by not charging them Tariffs, or any other forms of remuneration.
‘Now, after Centuries, it is time for Denmark to give back — World Peace is at stake!’
Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland will all be charged a 10% tariff ‘on any and all goods’ sent to the US from February 1, he confirmed.
He warned the rate will increase to 25% from June 1, until a deal is reached for Washington to purchase Greenland from Denmark.
Despite the economic damage that Trump’s tarrifs could bring, Greenlanders remained defiant.
One former member of Greenland’s parliament, Tillie Martinussen, said standing up for Nato and Greenland’s autonomy were more important than facing tariffs.
She added: ‘This is a fight for freedom. It’s for Nato, it’s for everything the western Hemisphere has been fighting for since world war two.’
The threat of tariffs has sparked backlash from political leaders across Europe.
UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said on the TV round this morning that the government’s position on Greenland was ‘non-negotiable’.
Donald Trump tariff announcement in full
In a post on the US President’s social media platform, Truth Social, Trump said: ‘We have subsidized Denmark, and all of the Countries of the European Union, and others, for many years by not charging them Tariffs, or any other forms of remuneration.
‘Now, after Centuries, it is time for Denmark to give back — World Peace is at stake! China and Russia want Greenland, and there is not a thing that Denmark can do about it. They currently have two dogsleds as protection, one added recently.
‘Only the United States of America, under PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP, can play in this game, and very successfully, at that! Nobody will touch this sacred piece of Land, especially since the National Security of the United States, and the World at large, is at stake. On top of everything else, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, The United Kingdom, The Netherlands, and Finland have journeyed to Greenland, for purposes unknown.
‘This is a very dangerous situation for the Safety, Security, and Survival of our Planet. These Countries, who are playing this very dangerous game, have put a level of risk in play that is not tenable or sustainable.
‘Therefore, it is imperative that, in order to protect Global Peace and Security, strong measures be taken so that this potentially perilous situation end quickly, and without question. Starting on February 1st, 2026, all of the above mentioned Countries (Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, The United Kingdom, The Netherlands, and Finland), will be charged a 10% Tariff on any and all goods sent to the United States of America. On June 1st, 2026, the Tariff will be increased to 25%.
‘This Tariff will be due and payable until such time as a Deal is reached for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland. The United States has been trying to do this transaction for over 150 years. Many Presidents have tried, and for good reason, but Denmark has always refused.
‘Now, because of The Golden Dome, and Modern Day Weapons Systems, both Offensive and Defensive, the need to ACQUIRE is especially important.
‘Hundreds of Billions of Dollars are currently being spent on Security Programs having to do with “The Dome,” including for the possible protection of Canada, and this very brilliant, but highly complex system can only work at its maximum potential and efficiency, because of angles, metes, and bounds, if this Land is included in it.
‘The United States of America is immediately open to negotiation with Denmark and/or any of these Countries that have put so much at risk, despite all that we have done for them, including maximum protection, over so many decades. Thank you for your attention to this matter!’
DONALD J. TRUMP
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Conservative MP Simon Hoare also called for a state visit from King Charles, due to take place later this year to mark the 250th anniversary of US independence, to be cancelled.
Writing on X, he said: ‘The civilised world can deal with Trump no longer. He is a gangster pirate.’
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Denmark’s foreign minister said Trump’s announcement was a surprise after a constructive meeting with U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio earlier in the week.
He said more European troops had been deployed to Greenland after Trump’s warning about the importance of the territory for arctic security.
Meanwhile the leaders of the European Commission and European Council have said the tariffs would ‘undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral’.
In a joint statement, Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa said: ‘Territorial integrity and sovereignty are fundamental principles of international law.
‘They are essential for Europe and for the international community as a whole.’
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