UK prime minister tells Donald Trump tariffs on Nato allies are ‘wrong’ in Greenland call
UK prime minister Keir Starmer has repeatedly said that Greenland’s future must be decided by its own people and Denmark, which governs the autonomous territory.
US President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. (File Photo)
UK prime minister Keir Starmer has told US President Donald Trump that threatening tariffs against Nato allies over Greenland is wrong, as European leaders move to counter Washington’s pressure over the Arctic territory.
Downing Street said Starmer raised his concerns during a phone call with Trump on Sunday, as the US president pushes for control of Greenland and warns of trade penalties against countries opposing the move.
‘Applying tariffs on allies is wrong’
According to a Downing Street summary cited by The Guardian Starmer told Trump that security in the Arctic region was a shared Nato responsibility.
“He said that security in the high north is a priority for all Nato allies in order to protect Euro-Atlantic interests,” a No 10 spokeswoman said.
Coloured houses covered by snow are seen from the sea in Nuuk, Greenland, on March 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka, File)
“She added that applying tariffs on allies for pursuing the collective security of Nato allies is wrong.”
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The call came after Trump said he would impose a 10% tariff from 1 February on goods from eight European countries, including the UK, rising to 25% by June unless a deal was reached for the US to buy Greenland.
Starmer also spoke separately to Denmark’s prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, and Nato secretary general Mark Rutte, as leaders coordinated their response.
‘Greenland’s future is not for the US to decide’
Starmer has repeatedly said that Greenland’s future must be decided by its own people and Denmark, which governs the autonomous territory. Denmark has said Greenland is not for sale, while Greenland’s leaders have said they would rather remain Danish than become American.
In a joint statement on Sunday, the UK, Denmark, France, Germany, Finland, Sweden, Norway and the Netherlands said Trump’s tariff threat “undermines transatlantic relations and risks a dangerous downward spiral”.
Joint statement by Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom 👇 pic.twitter.com/Gxf3F1Dc3p
The statement added that the countries “stand in full solidarity with the Kingdom of Denmark and the people of Greenland” and reaffirmed their commitment to Arctic security.
UK officials said Starmer would restate the government’s position in a statement on Monday but was not expected to announce retaliatory tariffs. Ministers say they want to avoid a public dispute while continuing private talks with Washington.
Culture secretary Lisa Nandy said the UK would not change its position.
“Our position on Greenland is non-negotiable,” she said. “The future of Greenland is for the people of Greenland and the people of the kingdom of Denmark to determine, and for them alone.”
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US President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. (File Photo) 
