Keir Starmer has called Donald Trump's Greenland tariff plan "wrong," sparking a diplomatic showdown. The UK prime minister reached out to US president Donald Trump to express his disapproval of tariffs threatened against Nato allies in response to the US interest in Greenland. Starmer reaffirmed the importance of prioritising Nato security concerns without resorting to trade sanctions.

The diplomatic calls included discussions with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte. Downing Street reported that Starmer emphasised the importance of security in the high north for Euro-Atlantic interests. He criticised the idea of imposing tariffs on allies, viewing them as counterproductive to the shared goals of NATO members.

Trump's proposal for a 10% tariff on eight European nations, escalating to 25%, targets the UK, France, Germany, and others unless a deal for Greenland is reached. The affected countries have collectively denounced this approach, perceiving it as detrimental to transatlantic ties. Across UK politics, there is unified opposition, including voices like Nigel Farage's Reform UK, which typically aligns with Trump.

Starmer's firm position could bring him into conflict with the US administration. The Liberal Democrats are urging an emergency debate in the Commons, seeking cancellation of a pharmaceuticals agreement with the US, while Labour MPs demand a more pro-Europe stance. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy maintains that the UK's stance on Greenland is firm and non-negotiable, emphasising private diplomacy over public escalation.

When questioned on the UK's response to potential US annexation, Nandy assured that the UK recognises Greenland’s sovereignty. We have consistently communicated this position to the US administration. Starmer has sought engagement with Trump, fostering relationship-building despite tensions, seeing mutual benefits in trade and diplomatic bridging over matters like Ukraine.

This strategy has yielded some advantages, enhancing trade relations and bridging communication between Washington and Nato allies. However, the unpredictable nature of the US president remains a potential disruptor to harmonious diplomatic relations, reported The Guardian.

Key Takeaways:

• Keir Starmer opposes Trump's tariffs on Nato allies, defending Greenland's sovereignty.

• UK parties unite against proposed US tariffs escalating without a Greenland deal.

• Starmer navigates US-UK diplomacy, balancing engagement with firm opposition.

  

Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Guardian 2026-01-19

 

 

Trump won't be around to feel the full effects .... but countries will begin to feel USA isn't a reliable partner anymore. You are already seeing India now moving towards alliances with China, and you are seeing a stronger effort from the Europeans to pivot towards China too.

Just completely pointless.

Furthermore, it might be lost on him, but he can't just put tarrifs on France, Netherlands, etc ... they are all a part of the EU. He would have to sanction the whole of the EU with the tariff. How could he not know that?

If Trump wanted Greenland more secure, then there were better diplomatic ways to make sure it happen.

But most likely you do get the feeling alot of this noise is to take away the headlines about Epstein, and he has succeeded in that.

11 minutes ago, DonniePeverley said:

You are already seeing India now moving towards alliances with China, and you are seeing a stronger effort from the Europeans to pivot towards China too.

Which European countries are pivoting towards China? IMO NATO is now teetering on collapse but this in no way means joining hands with the CCP.

3 hours ago, dinsdale said:

Which European countries are pivoting towards China? IMO NATO is now teetering on collapse but this in no way means joining hands with the CCP.

You seem to conflate EU and NATO as being one and the same, this is inaccurate. EU is a trade bloc whereas NATO is a military alliance. The EU appears to be progressing toward improved trade relations with China as the USA is now seen as unreliable economically, and militarily. Within the EU it is difficult if not impossible for individual countries to proceed unilaterally in establishing trade relations with countries outside the EU.

NATO, no matter what Putin and Trump would like people to believe, is becoming stronger militarily as it recognises the threat posed by Russian expansion.

European Union–NATO relations - Wikipedia

3 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

Furthermore, it might be lost on him, but he can't just put tarrifs on France, Netherlands, etc ... they are all a part of the EU. He would have to sanction the whole of the EU with the tariff. How could he not know that?

A very important point!

1 hour ago, JBChiangRai said:

A very important point!

It may very well be. But when has reality and truth made a difference to what's going on?

I think we can be fairly sure Europe will respond in some way. I think they are beginning to realise that being nice doesn't work with Trump.

4 minutes ago, JBChiangRai said:

I think we can be fairly sure Europe will respond in some way. I think they are beginning to realise that being nice doesn't work with Trump.

Jan 18 (Reuters) - European capitals may hit the U.S. with 93 billion ‌euros ($107.71 billion) worth of tariffs ‌or restrict American companies from the bloc's market in response to U.S. ⁠President Donald ‌Trump's threats to NATO allies opposed to ‍his campaign to take over Greenland, the Financial Times reported on Sunday.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/eu-considers-108-billion-retaliatory-185356183.html

Trump will do anything to deflect interest in his paedo past with Epstein

The man is a complete piece of scum

I don't remember such protests from politicians when the USA lead the invasions of Iraq and Libya destroying both countries, and resulting in the deaths of countless innocent civilians.

6 hours ago, dinsdale said:

Which European countries are pivoting towards China? IMO NATO is now teetering on collapse but this in no way means joining hands with the CCP.

With additional tariffs, it will become obvious that European countries will turn their trade more towards China. Trump is shi...ing in his own bed by doing this. China is grinning all the way to their banks, and it has already begun.

Even Canada are doing so. They have just made a huge deal with Chinese EV cars, for them delivering 45.000 cars a year. The tariffs on those? Only 6%..

You get the picture? Trump is an idiot, and is doing America more harm by the day.

He absolutely needs to get gone!

10 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

49 minutes ago, pacovl46 said:

He absolutely needs to get gone!

Trump won't be around to feel the full effects .... but countries will begin to feel USA isn't a reliable partner anymore. You are already seeing India now moving towards alliances with China, and you are seeing a stronger effort from the Europeans to pivot towards China too.

Just completely pointless.

Furthermore, it might be lost on him, but he can't just put tarrifs on France, Netherlands, etc ... they are all a part of the EU. He would have to sanction the whole of the EU with the tariff. How could he not know that?

If Trump wanted Greenland more secure, then there were better diplomatic ways to make sure it happen.

But most likely you do get the feeling alot of this noise is to take away the headlines about Epstein, and he has succeeded in that.

10 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

Trump won't be around to feel the full effects .... but countries will begin to feel USA isn't a reliable partner anymore. You are already seeing India now moving towards alliances with China, and you are seeing a stronger effort from the Europeans to pivot towards China too.

Just completely pointless.

Furthermore, it might be lost on him, but he can't just put tarrifs on France, Netherlands, etc ... they are all a part of the EU. He would have to sanction the whole of the EU with the tariff. How could he not know that?

If Trump wanted Greenland more secure, then there were better diplomatic ways to make sure it happen.

But most likely you do get the feeling alot of this noise is to take away the headlines about Epstein, and he has succeeded in that.

4 hours ago, JBChiangRai said:

I think we can be fairly sure Europe will respond in some way. I think they are beginning to realise that being nice doesn't work with Trump.

Problem is Europe has little to no military. The US has bailed Europe out in two world wars. Both from Germany.

The Iron Dome in Greenland would also be a defense for Europe.

If they could put aside their hatred of the USA they might find themselves in better light.

I lost cousins in Normandy. My father landed on Normandy as a frontline doctor, ever been to the Memorial Cemetary in Normandy if not take time to go. All you Brits and Europeans need to wake up and put your hatred aside. You’d all be speaking German now if the US hadn’t gotten involved. Russia is also an undefeatable force. Hypersonic Nuclear Warheads are just minutes from impact if fired very very unlikely Europe could stop them. Putin has warned if the UK and France send troops to Ukraine that London and Paris are the first 2 targets. Put that in your pipe and smoke it.

It’s embarrassing to be an American with that idiot and his stooges running the country.

22 minutes ago, Suetape said:

It’s embarrassing to be an American with that idiot and his stooges running the country.

It’s embarrassing to be an American with that idiot and his stooges running ruining the country and all its (ex)alliances!

3 hours ago, S Mart said:

Problem is Europe has little to no military. The US has bailed Europe out in two world wars. Both from Germany.

The Iron Dome in Greenland would also be a defense for Europe.

If they could put aside their hatred of the USA they might find themselves in better light.

I lost cousins in Normandy. My father landed on Normandy as a frontline doctor, ever been to the Memorial Cemetary in Normandy if not take time to go. All you Brits and Europeans need to wake up and put your hatred aside. You’d all be speaking German now if the US hadn’t gotten involved. Russia is also an undefeatable force. Hypersonic Nuclear Warheads are just minutes from impact if fired very very unlikely Europe could stop them. Putin has warned if the UK and France send troops to Ukraine that London and Paris are the first 2 targets. Put that in your pipe and smoke it.

Balderdash!

How Strong Is NATO Without The US? We Look At The Data - Global Affairs Explained

There is only one country that fought for freedom and democracy from day one of WWII until its bitter end, and that is not USA. Great Britain bankrupted itself to save democracy and the world from fascism. USA is currently bankrupting democracy to install fascism in its desire to control the world.

Great Britain paid back in full all the loans, with interest, made by USA under lend lease; final payment was in 2006 I seem to recall.

We would all be speaking German if it wasn't for USA is the standard jingoistic comment that totally ignores the fact that America would still be a British colony if it wasn't for the French!

I am sorry for the loss of your cousins, but you ignore the losses suffered by all the other countries in ridding fascism from Europe. Brave resistance fighters and SOE operatives working behind the lines to disrupt the Third Reich operations risked an early death if they were lucky, or torture and a slow agonising death if not.

Greenland is part of NATO and Denmark has already said that the USA can station more forces there if it considers it necessary to defend both the USA and the free democratic world. That does not require its people to become part of USA and lose their free medical care and education; two things that the USA is not world renowned for!

7 hours ago, S Mart said:

17 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

He absolutely needs to get gone!

17 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

Trump won't be around to feel the full effects .... but countries will begin to feel USA isn't a reliable partner anymore. You are already seeing India now moving towards alliances with China, and you are seeing a stronger effort from the Europeans to pivot towards China too.

11 hours ago, JBChiangRai said:

I think we can be fairly sure Europe will respond in some way. I think they are beginning to realise that being nice doesn't work with Trump.

Yeah! He's a very, very stupid egomaniac!

19 hours ago, webfact said:

Keir Starmer has called Donald Trump's Greenland tariff plan "wrong," sparking a diplomatic showdown.

No way. Starmer has a pair?

It's kind of an incredible thing to see a 79-year-old who thinks like a 13-year-old and is so stunted emotionally that he just never developed past the teen years. For him to make a statement like he made to the Norwegian PM is kind of stunning, and it's almost as if he's saying you don't acknowledge me as being the most important man in the world, the world sometimes refuses to acknowledge that I am the most baddest man in the world, representing the most powerful country in the world, and the richest country in the world, and the best country in the world, and if you can't acknowledge that I am number one and that my country is number one, I'm not sure I feel like making peace anymore.

I think you should start thinking of me as the war president and I think that the planet should tremble and be very, very afraid of me.

According to two European officials, Trump’s message to Gahr Støre read in part: “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.”

“Norway’s position on Greenland is clear. Greenland is a part of the Kingdom of Denmark, and Norway fully supports the Kingdom of Denmark on this matter,” the Norwegian leader said in a statement. “As regards the Nobel Peace Prize, I have clearly explained, including to president Trump what is well known, the prize is awarded by an independent Nobel Committee and not the Norwegian government.

https://apnews.com/article/greenland-denmark-us-trump-starmer-9b01eb577363ee6e913722fe3d40d68e

The EU and Britain have the ultimate weapon - if they want to use it. Guess who is buying/has bought all the Treasury bonds that China has been dumping at a loss for the last 3 years or so.

OKay, they're buying them to maintain the value of their existing holdings because value declines as yields rise, (due to the fixed coupon rate and rediscounting), but if they really wanted to middle-finger Trump they would dump them in a heartbeat - but they're scared Trump will do what they did to Russia and freeze them in perpetuity - and probably buy Greenland with the proceeds.

Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan Treasuries might be a safer investment in 2026.

4 minutes ago, Gsxrnz said:

but they're scared Trump will do what they did to Russia and freeze them in perpetuity

Freeze what?

5 hours ago, animalmagic said:

Balderdash!

How Strong Is NATO Without The US? We Look At The Data - Global Affairs Explained

There is only one country that fought for freedom and democracy from day one of WWII until its bitter end, and that is not USA. Great Britain bankrupted itself to save democracy and the world from fascism. USA is currently bankrupting democracy to install fascism in its desire to control the world.

Great Britain paid back in full all the loans, with interest, made by USA under lend lease; final payment was in 2006 I seem to recall.

We would all be speaking German if it wasn't for USA is the standard jingoistic comment that totally ignores the fact that America would still be a British colony if it wasn't for the French!

I am sorry for the loss of your cousins, but you ignore the losses suffered by all the other countries in ridding fascism from Europe. Brave resistance fighters and SOE operatives working behind the lines to disrupt the Third Reich operations risked an early death if they were lucky, or torture and a slow agonising death if not.

Greenland is part of NATO and Denmark has already said that the USA can station more forces there if it considers it necessary to defend both the USA and the free democratic world. That does not require its people to become part of USA and lose their free medical care and education; two things that the USA is not world renowned for!

without the UK the yanks would still be fighting Saddam the worlds top military my Arse. You went to Viet and got your arse kicked by girls on bikes. The only time you win anything is with Coalition partners. The first thing you do in a conflict is to ask the UK to join in with you. How many choppers and planes went into Venezula 200 + the UK would have sent a squad of SAS to grab him. So don't come the old your number 1.

If all the countries in the world boycott the USA and Trump as much as possible,

will the people of the USA notice and do somthing about this outrageous guy?

11 minutes ago, Stargeezr said:

If all the countries in the world boycott the USA and Trump as much as possible,

will the people of the USA notice and do somthing about this outrageous guy?

Years ago, the traditional way to deal with a factious infant was a sharp slap to the back of the legs and sent to bed without milk and cookies. Come on America.... control your brat!

1 minute ago, PREM-R said:

Years ago, the traditional way to deal with a factious infant was a sharp slap to the back of the legs and sent to bed without milk and cookies. Come on America.... control your brat!

Indeed, and what may happen if Trump is allowed to sit in the big chair for the next 3 years.

😬...........🫣