UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has told US President Donald Trump that plans to impose tariffs on Nato allies over Greenland are âwrongâ, during a phone call between the two leaders on Friday.
According to a Downing Street summary of the call, Starmer told Trump that âapplying tariffs on Nato allies is wrongâ as tensions rise over the US presidentâs proposal to introduce trade penalties linked to Greenland.
Starmer also reiterated the UKâs support for Greenlandâs sovereignty, stressing that security in the Arctic remains âa priority for all Nato alliesâ, amid growing concern across Europe about the implications of the plan.
Trump announced on Thursday that he intends to impose 10% tariffs on eight Nato member states until âsuch time as a Deal is reached for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenlandâ.
The proposed tariffs would affect Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the UK, all of which have rejected the idea of Greenland being sold to the US.
In a joint statement, the leaders of the eight countries warned that Trumpâs plan risks a âdangerous downward spiralâ, cautioning that the move could undermine alliance unity and economic stability.
Protests have also erupted in Greenland and Denmark, where thousands of demonstrators have taken to the streets to oppose the US presidentâs proposal and defend Greenlandâs right to self determination.
Greenland, an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, has long held strategic importance due to its location in the Arctic and its natural resources, an area Nato allies have increasingly prioritised amid rising geopolitical competition.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
