Starmer slams Trump's Greenland tariff threat as 'completely wrong' - as EU gathers for emergency talks
Posting on his Truth Social, the US president said 10 per cent tariffs would come into effect on February 1 - affecting Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands and Finland
Sir Keir Starmer said the government would be "pursuing" the US after Donald Trump announced a wave of tariffs on European countries that would remain in place until he had acquired Greenland.
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EU envoys have been summoned for emergency talks in Brussels today, as the UK and EU allies face a new round of President Trump tariffs.
Posting on his Truth Social on Saturday, the US president said 10 per cent tariffs would come into effect on February 1 - affecting Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands and Finland.
Those tariffs will then increase to 25 per cent on June 1 until a deal to purchase Greenland is reached.
Denmark's foreign minister will also visit London tomorrow to discuss the security situation in the Arctic.
The foreign ministry in Copenhagen says Lars Lokke Rasmussen's visit comes with the Arctic "increasingly the subject of geopolitical competition, placing new demands on NATO countries' coordination, presence and deterrence".
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He announced the tax hikes during a long social media rant, in which he also slammed the European countries for sending military personnel to Greenland in a show of support for the territory.
"These countries, who are playing this very dangerous game, have put a level of risk in play that is not tenable or sustainable," Trump wrote.
"Therefore, it is imperative that, in order to protect Global Peace and Security, strong measures be taken so that this potentially perilous situations end quickly, and without question."
Responding to the tariff threat, Sir Keir said: “Our position on Greenland is very clear – it is part of the Kingdom of Denmark and its future is a matter for the Greenlanders and the Danes.
"We have also made clear that Arctic Security matters for the whole of Nato and allies should all do more together to address the threat from Russia across different parts of the Arctic.
"Applying tariffs on allies for pursuing the collective security of Nato allies is completely wrong. We will of course be pursuing this directly with the US administration."
In a joint statement, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and European Council president Antonio Costa said the EU stands in "full solidarity with Denmark", adding it was "committed to building on the process begun already last week between the Kingdom of Denmark and the US".
Trump first threatened to put tariffs on countries that do not support his Greenland plan at the White House on Friday.
Speaking at a rural health roundtable, he said: "I may put a tariff on countries if they don't go along with Greenland, because we need Greenland for national security."
The American leader has repeatedly said the US "absolutely" needs to acquire Greenland, which formally belongs to Denmark.
His tariff threat comes after a 11-member bipartisan US delegation visited Denmark yesterday in a bid to cool tensions over the island.
Congress members met with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, her Greenlandic counterpart, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, and Danish ministers in Copenhagen.
Democratic senator Chris Coons, who led the delegates, pledged to share the Danish perspective in Washington and thanked Denmark for "225 years of being a good and trusted ally and partner".
"Part of the point of this trip is to have a bipartisan group of members of Congress listen respectfully to our friends, our trusted allies and partners here in Denmark and from Greenland," he said.
"To go back to the United States and share those perspectives so that we can lower the temperature and have a more constructive dialogue about the best path forward."
Lisa Murkowski, a moderate Republican senator from Alaska, said "the vast majority" of Americans didn't think that acquiring Greenland is a good idea.
In Britain, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch labelled Trump's plan a "terrible idea".
"President Trump is completely wrong to announce tariffs on the UK over Greenland. People in both UK and US will face higher costs," she wrote on X.
"These tariffs will be yet another burden for businesses across our country. The sovereignty of Greenland should only be decided by the people of Greenland."