Synopsis: A British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has condemned U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff threat against several European NATO allies over Greenland as “completely wrong,” reaffirming that Greenland’s future is a matter for Denmark and its people.
The extraordinary row erupted after Trump declared that imports from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland will face a 10% tariff from Feb. 1, 2026, rising to 25% by June 1 unless European nations relent in their opposition to U.S. ambitions around Greenland — in what he framed as a matter of national security and Arctic defence.
In a public statement, Starmer made clear that “Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark and its future is a matter for the Greenlanders and the Danes.” He stressed that NATO allies should work collectively to strengthen Arctic security in response to perceived threats from Russia, rather than face punitive tariffs from a close partner.
Starmer’s remarks underscored the rising diplomatic friction between London and Washington, as he pledged that the UK government will pursue the matter directly with the U.S. administration. He described the idea of levying tariffs on allies engaged in joint security efforts as not only “wrong” but counterproductive to shared defence goals.
Starmer’s stance aligns with wider European condemnation of Trump’s tariff threat. Leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson have denounced the proposed tariffs as unacceptable and harmful to transatlantic relations. Macron insisted that “no intimidation will influence us” on matters of sovereignty or security, while Kristersson emphasised that decisions about Greenland must be taken by Denmark and Greenland.
Moreover, EU officials have voiced concern that such punitive trade actions could trigger broader trade retaliation and complicate cooperation on issues from defence to economic diplomacy, potentially undermining decades‑old NATO unity.
The dispute centres on Greenland’s strategic location amid rising global focus on the Arctic, where melting ice has opened new security and resource considerations. While the U.S. cites Russia and China’s growing interest as justification for its assertive stance, many European leaders view the tariff proposal as an inappropriate linkage of trade policy to territorial sovereignty among allies.
Denmark, which oversees Greenland’s foreign affairs, has reiterated that NATO and allied cooperation remain paramount, and that Arctic security can be reinforced without coercion or territorial coercion.
Global markets reacted cautiously to the escalating diplomatic tension, particularly within sectors exposed to U.S.–European trade flows. Analysts suggest that both sides now face heightened political risk, with broader implications for future trade negotiations and multilateral security frameworks.