UK and allies battle to carry Trump again from brink as he sparks Greenland invasion fears
As tensions spiralled, Donald Trump told Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre that his Nobel Peace Prize snub meant he is ‘no longer obligated to think of peace’
Donald Trump has refused to rule out seizing Greenland by force(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)
The UK and allies are scrambling to persuade Donald Trump back from the brink as the US President refused to rule out using force to seize Greenland.
Keir Starmer faces a race against time to protect Britain from US tariffs after Mr Trump warned he would “100%” follow through on his economic threat if a deal is not reached over the Arctic island. As tensions spiralled, Mr Trump told Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre that his Nobel Peace Prize snub meant he is “no longer obligated to think of peace”.
The US President has stepped up his demands to take control of mineral-rich Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark, which he claims is vital for US security against Russia and China in the Arctic. He stunned Europe over the weekend by threatening to slap a 10% tariff “on any and all goods” sent to the US by eight NATO allies including the UK from February 1, rising to 25% from June 1, until he gets a deal to buy Greenland.
At a hastily arranged Downing Street press conference today, Mr Starmer issued a direct warning to Mr Trump against starting a trade war. He said: “The use of tariffs against allies is completely wrong.
“It is not the right way to resolve differences within an alliance, nor is it helpful to frame efforts to strengthen Greenland security as a justification for economic pressure. Such measures hurt British workers, British businesses and the British economy”.
READ MORE: 9 bombshells as Keir Starmer hits back at Trump in emergency press conference
The Prime Minister played down the idea of hitting the US with retaliatory tariffs and called for calm heads amid a diplomatic blitz to urge the US President to step back from the brink. Mr Starmer said he believed Mr Trump was not seriously considering using military force to annex the island.
“Any decision about the future status of Greenland belongs to the people of Greenland and the kingdom of Denmark alone. That right is fundamental,” he said. Asked if he thought the US could launch a military strike, the PM told reporters: “I don’t actually… I think that this can be resolved, and should be resolved, through calm discussion.”
But tonight Mr Trump told NBC News “No comment,” when asked if he could seize Greenland by force. He took a swipe at European leaders, saying: “Europe ought to focus on the war with Russia and Ukraine because, frankly, you see what that’s gotten them. That’s what Europe should focus on – not Greenland.”
Asked if he would follow through with his tariffs threat, he said: “I will, 100%.”
Mr Trump also blamed Norway for the escalation as he ranted about failing to receive a Nobel Peace Prize for his dubious claim that he has ended eight wars during his second term.
In a text message to the Norwegian PM late on Sunday, he said: “Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace, although it will always be predominant, but can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America.” He added: “The World is not secure unless we have Complete and Total Control of Greenland.”
Mr Gahr Støre said in a statement: “Norway’s position on Greenland is clear. Greenland is a part of the Kingdom of Denmark, and Norway fully supports the Kingdom of Denmark on this matter. As regards the Nobel Peace Prize, I have clearly explained, including to President Trump what is well known, the prize is awarded by an independent Nobel Committee and not the Norwegian Government.”
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper met her Danish counterpart Lars Lokke Rasmussen in London today as the crisis escalated.
She told MPs tonight: “Denmark has long been one of the US’s closest allies, a proud Nato member that has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the UK and with the US, including at real human cost, in recent decades. Alliances endure because they are built on respect and partnership, not pressure – and tariffs threats like this are no way to treat allies.”
She warned that the Arctic was becoming increasingly pivotal as it offered a pathway for Russia’s northern fleet. Ms Cooper added: “Both sides of the Atlantic should be working together on Arctic security, not moving apart. That is why the Prime Minister and this government are working intensively in the national interest to prevent this happening and to reach a resolution.”
It comes after Ms Cooper told the Mirror last week that she was proposing the idea of a Nato mission to defend the Arctic, as the alliance does in the Baltic Sea and along its eastern flank.
The British public strongly backs the idea of retaliatory tariffs against the US, according to a YouGov poll. The survey found 67% of people would either strongly (45%) or somewhat (22%) support the idea. Just 14% of people were against it either strongly (6%) or somewhat (8%).
