British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has publicly broken ranks with U.S. President Donald Trump over his renewed pressure campaign for the annexation of Greenland. Trump threatened to impose a 25% tariff on the U.K. and other European allies until Denmark relents and sells the territory of Greenland—a move Starmer has labeled “completely wrong.”
During a press conference at Downing Street on Monday morning, Starmer argued the use of tariffs against allies “is not the right way to resolve differences within an alliance, nor is it helpful to frame efforts to strengthen Greenland’s security as a justification for economic pressure.”
Referring to the matter as a “very serious situation,” Starmer—who rejected the idea of retaliatory tariffs against the U.S., for now at least—said a “trade war is in no one’s interest” and emphasized that his priority is to act in the national interest of the United Kingdom.
“On Greenland, the right way to approach an issue of this seriousness is through calm discussion between allies. Let’s be clear, the security of Greenland matters and it will matter more as climate change reshapes the Arctic,” said Starmer. “As sea routes open and strategic competition intensifies, the High North will require greater attention, greater investment, and stronger collective defence.”
The U.K. is ready to assist NATO allies on that front, Starmer vowed, before stating that no plan can be made without the involvement of Greenland and Denmark.
“Any decision about the future status of Greenland belongs to the people of Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark alone. That right is fundamental, and we will support it,” Starmer said, taking a clear stance against Trump’s rhetoric, which includes the White House refusing to rule out taking Greenland by military force.
Greenland and Denmark have repeatedly denounced Trump’s attempts to annex the island. In his strongest pushback yet, Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen plainly…
