In a defiant stance, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has vowed not to “yield” to pressure from US President Donald Trump over the future of Greenland. This comes after Trump criticised the UK’s deal to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, calling it an “act of great stupidity”.
Speaking at Prime Minister’s Questions, Starmer stated that the future of Greenland “is for the people of Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark alone”. He accused Trump of using his previous comments in support of the Chagos Islands deal as a means of “putting pressure” on the UK regarding Greenland.
Trump has threatened to impose 10% tariffs on European countries, including the UK, if they do not agree to his demand to take control of Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark. The US president has claimed that the UK’s decision to hand over the Chagos Islands is a “national security reason” for his continued pursuit of Greenland.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has echoed Trump’s criticism of the Chagos Islands deal, urging the Prime Minister to “scrap this terrible deal and put the money into our armed forces”. However, Starmer has remained steadfast in his position, stating that he “will not do so” in response to Trump’s pressure.
The dispute over Greenland has wider implications for NATO and the EU, with Trump’s actions seen by some as an attempt to undermine the UK’s relationships with its allies. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has accused the US president of “increasingly acting like a crime boss running a protection racket”.
As the tensions escalate, the Prime Minister is set to host Danish Premier Mette Frederiksen in Downing Street on Thursday, where the future of Greenland is expected to be a key topic of discussion. The UK government has insisted that its Five Eyes allies, including the US, support the Chagos Islands deal, despite the Trump administration’s criticism.
