Keir Starmer slammed Donald Trump’s tariffs for countries opposing his bid to take over Greenland as “wrong” in a series of calls this afternoon, incuding one to the US President.
The Prime Minister held the urgent call with the US President after NATO countries including the UK accused Mr Trump of risking a “dangerous downward sprial” in relations over Greenland tariff threats.
Downing Street said: “The Prime Minister had a number of calls with leaders this afternoon. He spoke to Prime Minister of Denmark, Mette Frederiksen; President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte. He then spoke to President Trump.
“In all his calls, the Prime Minister reiterated his position on Greenland. 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.”
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AFP via Getty Images)
Last night the US President warned he will slap 10% tariffs on countries including the UK for opposing his desired takeover of the territory. He also threatened to hike the levies on NATO allies to 25% on June 1 if a deal to buy Greenland is not reached in time.
Keir Starmer has Cabinet ministers have criticised the move as “completely wrong”. And in a joint statement today, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom, hit back at the threats.
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.
“We stand in full solidarity with the Kingdom of Denmark and the people of Greenland. Building on the process begun last week, we stand ready to engage in a dialogue based on the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity that we stand firmly behind.
“Tariff threats undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral. We will continue to stand united and coordinated in our response. We are committed to upholding our sovereignty.”
Earlier the UK’s Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has insisted the UK’s position on Greenland is non-negotiable – despite Donald Trump’s threats. Ms Nandy made clear the government’s opposition – but said Britain will not descend into a “war of words” with America and ramp up the temperature.
She told the BBC : “This conversation about tariffs, we believe it is wrong, it is deeply unhelpful and we believe it is counterproductive.
The Cabinet minister added on Sky News: “Our PM has been unequivocal, it is the position of the UK that the future of Greenland depends on the wishes of the people of Greenland and the people of the kingdom of Denmark.”
Pressed on whether the UK government would retaliate, Ms Nandy said: “Before we talk about raising the temperature I think we need to remember the relationship with the US is incredibly important to us and always has been.” She added: “Our position on Greenland is non-negotiable, that we’ve made that very clear, and we’ll continue to make that clear.”
President Trump’s position on Greenland is different, notwithstanding that it is in our collective interest to work together and not to start a war of words.”
French President Emmanuel Macron said he would not bow to “intimidation” and Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said “we will not let ourselves be blackmailed”. Today EU ambassadors have been summoned for emergency talks over the threats.
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