London [UK]: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has sharply criticised US President Donald Trump’s warning to impose trade tariffs on European nations over Greenland, calling the proposal “completely wrong” and harmful to allied unity.
In a statement shared on social media platform X on Sunday, Starmer reaffirmed the United Kingdom’s position that Greenland remains an integral part of the Kingdom of Denmark and that any decision regarding its future lies solely with the people of Greenland and Denmark.
The UK Prime Minister also stressed that security in the Arctic region is a collective responsibility of the NATO alliance and urged member states to strengthen cooperation in response to growing strategic challenges posed by Russia in the region.
“Greenland’s status is not up for negotiation. Arctic security concerns all NATO allies, and we must act together to address threats across the region,” Starmer said.
Criticising Trump’s proposed economic measures, Starmer warned against targeting allies who are working toward shared defence objectives. “Imposing tariffs on partners for upholding collective security is fundamentally wrong. We will raise this issue directly with the US administration,” he added.
Trump, on Saturday, threatened to levy tariffs on the United Kingdom and several European countries unless they agreed to sell Greenland to the United States. He claimed the move was necessary for national security, citing increased Russian and Chinese interest in the Arctic territory.
According to Trump’s statement, a 10 per cent tariff would come into effect from February 1, 2026, rising to 25 per cent from June 1, 2026, if negotiations failed. The countries named included Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, and Finland.
Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory under Denmark, has repeatedly rejected any proposal of being sold, with leaders in both Denmark and Greenland asserting their right to self-determination.
Meanwhile, several European nations, including Germany, France, Sweden, Norway, and Finland, have deployed limited military personnel to Greenland, while Denmark has increased its own security presence amid escalating geopolitical tensions.
The developments have triggered concerns within Europe about potential strain on NATO unity, with some leaders warning that any attempt to forcibly alter Greenland’s status could seriously undermine the transatlantic alliance.
