Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has told Donald Trump that applying tariffs to allies for pursuing collective NATO security is “wrong.” In a telephone call this afternoon, the Prime Minister challenged the US President’s plan to impose trade penalties on the UK as a means of pressuring a deal for Greenland. Downing Street confirmed that Starmer used the call to reiterate that security in the High North remains a priority for all allies to protect Euro-Atlantic interests.
The diplomatic standoff follows Trump’s announcement of a 10 per cent tariff on “any and all” UK goods starting February 1. The US administration has warned these levies will increase to 25 per cent from June 1 unless a deal is reached for Washington to purchase Greenland from Denmark. While the President has linked the trade barriers to his desire to acquire the Arctic territory, the UK government has maintained that the sovereignty of the island is not a matter for negotiation, reports PA.
He said the same would apply to Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Finland. Sir Keir held a flurry of calls on Sunday afternoon, including with the US president, No 10 said.
He also spoke to Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and Nato chief Mark Rutte.
A Downing Street spokeswoman said: “In all his calls, the Prime Minister reiterated his position on Greenland.
“He said that security in the High North is a priority for all Nato allies in order to protect Euro-Atlantic interests.
“He also said that applying tariffs on allies for pursuing the collective security of Nato allies is wrong.”
