LONDON — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Sunday condemned threats by former U.S. President Donald Trump to impose new taxes on allied nations, including the United Kingdom, over a dispute involving Greenland, calling the measures “wrong” and a risk to alliance relations.
Speaking at a Downing Street news conference, Starmer said he had told Trump directly that the tariff threats were unacceptable and jeopardized transatlantic solidarity at a time when unity among NATO allies matters. He warned that coercive economic pressure on partners would damage trust that underpins the alliance.
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Trump has threatened a 10% tariff on countries opposing his proposal for the United States to acquire Greenland, an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. He also warned NATO allies could face tax increases of up to 25% starting June 1 if no agreements were reached, escalating tensions with long-standing U.S. partners.
“Alliance relations endure when based on respect and cooperation, not coercion,” Starmer said, standing alongside Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper and Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves. He added that Greenland’s future is a matter for its people and Denmark, not external pressure or transactional bargaining.
Downing Street said the U.K. joined several allied nations in issuing a joint statement reaffirming full support for Denmark and the people of Greenland. The statement underscored that questions of sovereignty and territorial status must be decided by those directly concerned and in line with international law.
Starmer emphasized the depth of the U.K.-U.S. relationship and said disagreements can and should be resolved without resorting to trade warfare. “Such measures serve no one’s interests,” he said, noting that punitive tariffs would hurt businesses and consumers on both sides of the Atlantic while distracting from shared security priorities.
The remarks came amid swift political fallout in London. Liberal Democrats leader Sir Ed Davey urged the government to reconsider the planned state visit of the British monarch to the United States if Washington persisted with tax threats against allies. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy downplayed those calls, stressing that the U.K.-U.S. relationship extends beyond any single political dispute and spans defense, culture and economic ties built over decades.
Greenland, which controls most of its domestic affairs while Denmark oversees foreign and security policy, has long resisted suggestions of external acquisition. Copenhagen has repeatedly affirmed that Greenland’s status rests with the people of Greenland and Denmark. Any move to link NATO cooperation to unilateral economic penalties would inject new strain into European and North American relations at a moment when partners are coordinating on security challenges from the North Atlantic to Eastern Europe.
British officials signaled they are focused on de-escalation and continued engagement with Washington. Starmer’s team said the government will keep open lines with U.S. counterparts and other allies to avoid any trade steps that could undercut a united front on defense and foreign policy.
- What’s next: Allies will watch for clarification from Washington on tariff timelines and scope ahead of the June 1 marker cited by Trump.
- Allied coordination: London and other capitals are expected to consult with Copenhagen and Nuuk as they reaffirm support for Denmark and Greenland.
- Political pressure: Westminster debates may intensify over diplomatic responses, including the handling of high-level visits, if the tariff threats remain on the table.
For now, the U.K. message is that alliance cohesion cannot be built on ultimatums. The government’s stance reflects a broader concern that trade threats against partners risk widening political rifts when shared security interests increasingly require lockstep cooperation.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
