Keir Starmer has accused Donald Trump of being “completely wrong” after the US president announced sweeping tariffs against the UK and seven European allies, explicitly linking the measures to his demand that the United States take control of Greenland.
The prime minister responded after Trump said he would impose a 10% import tax on goods from Britain, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Finland from 1 February. The tariff would rise sharply later in the year and remain in place until, in Trump’s words, a deal was reached for the “complete and total purchase of Greenland” by the United States.
The move stunned Downing Street and European capitals, marking a significant escalation in Trump’s long-running campaign to assert US control over the Arctic territory, which is part of the Kingdom of Denmark and has its own devolved government.
Trump announced the tariffs on his Truth Social platform, framing the issue as a matter of global security and claiming rival powers were poised to exploit the region.
“World Peace is at stake,” he wrote. “China and Russia want Greenland, and there is not a thing that Denmark can do about it. Only the United States of America, under President Donald J. Trump, can play in this game.”
He went on to argue that European countries engaging with Greenland were placing the planet at risk, warning that “strong measures” were necessary to force a rapid resolution.
🧭 Britain and allies reject US claim
Greenland has been part of the Danish realm for more than 300 years, though it enjoys extensive autonomy over domestic affairs. Britain, Denmark and other NATO allies have consistently maintained that any decision about the territory’s future rests solely with the people of Greenland and the Danish state.
Responding to Trump’s announcement, Starmer set out the UK’s position in unusually direct terms.
“Our position on Greenland is very clear – it is part of the Kingdom of Denmark and its future is a matter for the Greenlanders and the Danes,” he said. “Applying tariffs on allies for pursuing the collective security of NATO allies is completely wrong.”
He added that the UK would raise the issue directly with the US administration, stressing that Arctic security should be addressed collectively rather than through economic coercion.
Starmer also reiterated Britain’s view that Russia’s growing activity in the High North poses challenges for all NATO members, requiring cooperation rather than unilateral pressure.
🌍 European leaders push back
The Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch also criticised Trump’s move, warning it would harm businesses and consumers on both sides of the Atlantic.
“President Trump is completely wrong to announce tariffs on the UK over Greenland,” she said. “People in both the UK and US will face higher costs. These tariffs will be yet another burden for businesses across our country.”
She added that Greenland’s sovereignty should be decided only by its people, aligning herself publicly with Starmer on the issue.
Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey went further, branding Trump a “bully” and claiming the prime minister’s approach to Washington was now “in tatters”.
“Trump is punishing the UK and NATO allies just for doing the right thing,” Davey said. “Time for the PM to stand firm and work with European and Commonwealth allies to make him back down.”
🇩🇰 Greenland voices alarm
Concerns have also been voiced from Greenland itself. Visiting Westminster last week, Greenlandic politician Naaja Nathanielsen said many people in the territory felt betrayed by Trump’s rhetoric and threats.
She warned that talk of acquisition or military leverage had fuelled anxiety among residents, particularly as Denmark and its allies increase their security presence in the Arctic.
Earlier this week, the UK confirmed it had deployed a military officer to Greenland as part of a broader NATO effort to support Denmark amid rising tensions in the region.
🧨 Tariffs as leverage
Trump has increasingly used tariffs as a diplomatic weapon during his second term, threatening or imposing trade penalties to extract political concessions from allies as well as adversaries. The Greenland announcement follows similar warnings aimed at countries trading with Iran and previous disputes over drug pricing and defence spending.
In his latest remarks, Trump suggested the tariffs would remain in place indefinitely until European governments acquiesced to US demands, arguing that America had protected its allies for decades and was now owed cooperation.
“The United States of America is immediately open to negotiation,” he wrote, “despite all that we have done for them.”
For European governments, the move raises fresh questions about the reliability of Washington as a partner and the limits of alliance solidarity when economic pressure is deployed alongside security threats.
While UK ministers insist dialogue with the US remains open, the tariff threat has sharpened fears of a broader trade confrontation and intensified debate over how far European allies should go in resisting Trump’s increasingly confrontational approach to Greenland.
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