Keir Starmer branded Donald Trump’s trade war threats over Greenland ‘completely wrong’ today.
The PM insisted the US-UK alliance remained ‘profound’ and critical. But he told a Downing Street press conference that there was a ‘principle’ at stake and it was ‘fundamental’.
The comments came after Mr Trump renewed his extraordinary Greenland demands just hours after a rebuke from Sir Keir.
The US president insisted he will get his way over the Danish territory despite growing anger from Nato allies at his threats of tariffs unless it is handed to the US.
Sir Keir told Mr Trump in a call last night that attempt to coerce long-standing partners was ‘wrong’.
He delivered the message after releasing a joint statement with Western leaders warning of a ‘dangerous downward spiral’ in relations.
However, posting on his own Truth Social site in the early hours, Mr Trump said: ‘NATO has been telling Denmark, for 20 years, that ”you have to get the Russian threat away from Greenland”.
‘Unfortunately, Denmark has been unable to do anything about it. Now it is time, and it will be done!!! President Donald J. Trump.’
In a letter to Norway’s premier apparently circulated overnight, Mr Trump also linked his demands for Greenland to the refusal to give him the Nobel Peace prize.
‘I have done more for NATO than any other person since its founding, and now, NATO should do something for the United States,’ he wrote.
The government has so far stayed silent on what it could do if Mr Trump follows through on his tariff threats.
He has vowed to impose a 10 per cent levy on all imports from countries opposing his landgrab – rising to 25 per cent if they have not caved in by June.
There are fears the move could cause major damage to the UK’s pharma and car manufacturing industries.
Some economists have raised concerns it could even tip the country into recession, partly due to the uncertainty created by Mr Trump’s chaotic behaviour.
Some MPs have been pushing Sir Keir to cancel the King’s state visit to the US, due in April, as a protest.
European leaders have been signalling a far more aggressive response.
The bloc is considering deploying its so-called trade ‘bazooka’ for the first time in retaliation, an economic tool that would hit the US with £81billion in tariffs.
The ‘big bazooka’ is an anti-coercion instrument adopted in 2023 to combat political blackmail.
It allows the EU to restrict countries from participating in public tenders, limit trade licences and shut off access to the single market.
But there was no sign of the White House backing down, with one key figure blasting Europe as too weak to defend itself.
In a letter responding to a note from Jonas Støre about his tariff threats, Mr Trump linked his wish to seize Greenland from Denmark to not being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, which he has repeatedly said that he ‘deserves’.
‘Dear Jonas: Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace, although it will always be predominant, but can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America’, Mr Trump reportedly said.
Norwegian tabloid VG claims to have spoken to Mr Støre who confirmed the letter is genuine.
The PM also said he has told Mr Trump repeatedly that it is ‘well known’ that the Norwegian government does not decide who wins the Nobel Peace Prize.
Mr Trump claimed Denmark only owns Greenland because ‘a boat landed there hundreds of years ago’. He went on: ‘Denmark cannot protect that land from Russia or China, and why do they have a ‘right of ownership’ anyway? There are no written documents’.
