UK draws red line on Greenland sovereignty

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has warned that the use of trade tariffs against allied nations is “completely wrong”, after US President Donald Trump said he would impose sweeping import taxes on countries opposing his proposal for the United States to acquire Greenland, according to Downing Street.

President Trump has said the United States requires the “complete and total purchase” of Greenland for security reasons, with the White House stating that the territory is essential to both American and global security. On Saturday, he announced plans to introduce a 10 percent tariff on imports from the United Kingdom, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Finland by 1 February, rising to 25 percent by 1 June.

Addressing the nation, Starmer sought to balance continued engagement with Washington alongside a firm defence of allied sovereignty and international norms. He said that while circumstances change, the values guiding UK foreign policy do not.

“What matters most is being clear about the values and the interests that guide us even as circumstances change,” he said. “Our values were not improvised. They were built patiently over time, and while we are pragmatic in how we pursue our interests, we are resolute in defending those values when it matters.”

The prime minister underlined the depth of the UK–US relationship, describing it as central to national security, economic stability and prosperity. He said that under President Trump, as with previous administrations, the government remained determined to keep the relationship constructive and focused on tangible outcomes.

“We have seen significant US investment into the UK economy running into hundreds of billions of pounds supporting growth, skills and jobs right across the country,” Starmer said. “Our cooperation on defence, nuclear capability and intelligence remains as close and effective as anywhere in the world, keeping Britain safe in an increasingly dangerous environment.”

He added that sustained diplomatic engagement had already delivered results in key industrial sectors.

“We have secured good trading terms in cars, steel, aerospace and life sciences, protecting British jobs and manufacturers,” he said, stressing that regular direct contact with the White House and senior US officials remained essential.

Turning to Greenland, Starmer acknowledged the growing strategic importance of the Arctic as climate change reshapes global geography and competition intensifies in the High North. He said this would require increased investment and stronger collective defence through NATO, with the United States playing a central role.

“The security of Greenland matters, and it will matter more as sea routes open and strategic competition intensifies,” he said. “The high north will require greater attention, greater investment and stronger collective defence.”

However, the prime minister drew a clear line on sovereignty, stating that decisions over Greenland’s future could not be imposed externally.

“Any decision about the future status of Greenland belongs to the people of Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark alone,” he said. “That right is fundamental, and we support it.”

Starmer described Denmark as a close NATO ally that has repeatedly stood alongside the UK, including at significant human cost in recent conflicts, and said alliances endure through respect and partnership rather than coercion.

“That is why I said the use of tariffs against allies is completely wrong,” he said. “It is not the right way to resolve differences within an alliance, nor is it helpful to frame efforts to strengthen Greenland’s security as justification for economic pressure.” He warned that such measures would directly harm working people in the UK. “Such measures hurt British workers, British businesses and the British economy,” Starmer said, adding that a trade war would serve no nation’s interests.

The prime minister confirmed that he had spoken with President Trump, European leaders and the NATO Secretary General in an effort to pursue a solution grounded in dialogue.

“My job is always to act in the UK’s national interest,” he said. “That is why I spoke yesterday to President Trump, to European leaders and to the Secretary General of NATO to find a solution rooted in partnership, facts and mutual respect.”

Starmer also addressed wider international crises, saying the government strongly supported efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza and remained open to constructive engagement on Ukraine. He said the UK recognised President Trump’s role in pushing diplomatic processes forward and would continue working with allies to apply pressure on Russia. “We will work closely with the United States, Ukraine and our other allies to apply pressure where it belongs, on Putin,” he said. Linking global events to domestic impacts, Starmer argued that geopolitics directly affects everyday life in the UK, shaping energy prices, food costs and job security.

“Geopolitics is not something that happens somewhere else,” he said. “When war drives up fuel prices, it’s households who feel it first. When supply chains fracture, it’s small businesses and working people who absorb the shock.” He said the government’s approach was rooted in active engagement at home and abroad, combining economic stability with strong alliances and adherence to international law.

“Being pragmatic does not mean being passive. A partnership does not mean abandoning principle,” Starmer said.

Concluding his address, the prime minister called for national unity and rejected what he described as performative politics, arguing that gestures and slogans do little to protect jobs or security. “We will work with our allies in Europe, across NATO and with the United States,” he said. “We will keep dialogue open, defend international law, and use the full strength of government to protect the security, living standards and future of the British people.”