Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has issued a strong condemnation of US President Donald Trump's plan to impose punitive tariffs on the United Kingdom and several European allies. The move is linked to Washington's stalled ambition to purchase Greenland from Denmark.
Trump's Tariff Timeline and European Targets
The US administration announced that it intends to levy a 10% tariff on all goods exported from the UK to the United States, effective from 1 February 2026. This initial rate is scheduled to escalate sharply to 25% from 1 June 2026. The tariffs are conditional, set to remain until a deal is finalised for the US to acquire Greenland.
President Trump stated that the same measures would apply to a list of other NATO partners. Alongside the UK, the nations facing identical tariffs include Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Finland. The US leader suggested these countries had "journeyed to Greenland, for purposes unknown," implying coordinated opposition to the proposed sale.
Starmer's Firm Rebuttal on Sovereignty and Security
Responding to the announcement, Sir Keir Starmer was unequivocal in his rejection of both the tariff threat and the premise behind it. He reaffirmed the UK's clear stance on Greenland's political status.
"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," the Prime Minister stated.
He further connected the issue to broader geopolitical concerns, emphasising the collective defence responsibilities of the NATO alliance. "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," Starmer added.
Diplomatic Fallout and Next Steps
Sir Keir directly challenged the logic of using trade penalties against security partners. "Applying tariffs on allies for pursuing the collective security of NATO allies is completely wrong," he declared.
The Prime Minister confirmed that the UK government would not let the matter rest, signalling imminent diplomatic engagement. "We will of course be pursuing this directly with the US administration," he asserted, indicating high-level talks are likely in the coming days.
This dispute marks a significant and unexpected early test in UK-US trade and diplomatic relations under the new Starmer government and the returning Trump presidency. The situation threatens to create a serious rift within the NATO alliance, pitting economic pressure against principles of territorial sovereignty and collective defence.
