As the Greenland crisis escalates, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has taken a firm stance against US President Donald Trump’s threats to impose tariffs on NATO allies who have deployed troops to the Danish territory. In a series of phone calls on Sunday evening, Starmer conveyed a clear message to the American leader, asserting that such actions undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral.
Starmer’s resolute approach places him on a collision course with the Trump administration, which has vowed to slap 10% tariffs on the UK, France, Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Finland starting February 1st, potentially rising to 25% by June 1st if a deal to purchase Greenland is not reached.
In his conversations with Trump, as well as with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, Starmer reiterated the UK’s position on Greenland. The Prime Minister emphasized that security in the High North is a priority for all NATO allies in order to protect Euro-Atlantic interests and that applying tariffs on allies for pursuing the collective security of the alliance is unacceptable.
Starmer’s firm stance is in line with a joint statement issued by the affected countries on Sunday, which condemned Trump’s threats as undermining transatlantic relations and risking a dangerous downward spiral.
On Monday, Starmer is expected to use an emergency Downing Street statement to further reiterate the UK’s disappointment and opposition to the US president’s plans, which have sent shockwaves throughout the EU and NATO. The Prime Minister is not, however, anticipated to push for reciprocal tariffs or other retaliatory measures.
Instead, Starmer is hoping that his unexpectedly good relationship with Trump, which has allowed the UK to avoid some earlier US tariffs, could help facilitate a climbdown by the White House. The Prime Minister is also expected to stress the importance of the UK’s ties with allies like the US, as he seeks to navigate the delicate diplomatic situation.
The crisis has united all major UK political parties, including Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, which is most closely aligned with the US president, in condemning Trump’s threat to apply tariffs. However, Starmer may face pressure to push back harder against the American leader, as it becomes increasingly clear that a normal relationship with his administration is effectively impossible.
