Starmer hails Trump’s climbdown on Greenland threats however warns of ‘exhausting yards’ to return… as recent conflict looms over ‘peace board’
Keir Starmer hailed Donald Trump backing off Greenland threats today but warned of ‘hard yards’ to come.
The PM said it was a ‘good thing’ that the US president had dropped the idea of tariffs against Nato allies or seizing Danish territory by force.
He insisted he had navigated the past few days with ‘pragmatism’ and by ‘sticking to our values and principles’.
But Sir Keir cautioned that a ‘better way’ needed to be found of guaranteeing security ‘for Europe and across the globe’.
The comments, on a visit to Hertfordshire, came amid fears of rising tensions with the US on another front.
The UK – along with most other European powers – has signalled it will not be signing up to Mr Trump’s new ‘board of peace’ at a ceremony in Davos today.
Keir Starmer hailed Donald Trump backing off Greenland threats today but warned of ‘hard yards’ to come
Mr Trump finally signalled a retreat on his Greenland demands during a rambling speech at the World Economic Forum yesterday (pictured)
Mr Trump finally signalled a retreat on his Greenland demands during a rambling speech at the World Economic Forum yesterday.
Nato chief Mark Rutte said negotiations still need to take place on the ‘the framework of a future deal’ regarding control of the Arctic island.
Denmark has played down suggestions that sovereignty could be given away for US military bases, with confusion over the nature of the proposals.
Markets in the US rallied on Mr Trump’s announcement yesterday, having climbed on his earlier proclamation that he would not use force to take the ‘big, beautiful piece of ice’.
There is speculation Mr Trump could make the 57,000 inhabitants of Greenland an offer of $1million each – £750,000 – if they vote to join the United States.
Speaking to local residents during a visit to Hertfordshire, the Prime Minister said: ‘I think you will have noticed that the last few days have been incredibly serious in relation to big things happening on the world stage.
‘And you may have seen but it is a good thing that yesterday, the threat of tariffs against the United Kingdom was lifted and now we can start hard yards and finding a way forward on security in the Arctic, which may seem a long way away, pretty remote, but actually it does matter to all of us in terms of the safety and security of our country.
‘And we’ve got through the last few days with a mix of British pragmatism, common sense, but also that British sense of sticking to our values and our principles.
‘But now, as I say, the hard yards of actually finding a better way for security for our country, for Europe and across the globe.’
Sir Keir met Danish PM Mette Frederiksen at his Chequers grace-and-favour country estate this lunchtime.
Sir Keir held talks with Danish PM Mette Frederiksen at Chequers this lunchtime
Ms Frederiksen said: ‘From the bottom of my heart, I would like to thank you and the UK for your very strong support to the Kingdom of Denmark.
‘I think everybody recognises that it has been quite a difficult time for us. And to know that you have good friends, strong allies, and that Europeans stand together, don’t get divided, and stick to our, as you said, our common values, even in a world that is changing rapidly, is extremely important for all of us.’
She also praised the ‘British way of doing things,’ saying: ‘You are very pragmatic. You have a cup of tea and then you think a bit about everything. You get the facts on the table, and then you find a way forward, and that’s exactly what we’re doing now.’
She concluded her remarks before their private talks by saying: ‘So just to finalise, I think we’ve got to get by with a little help from our friends, also in this situation.’
