Greenland’s future must be decided by its people, says Lisa Nandy

The culture minister said Britain would not budge on its stance that Greenland’s future should be decided by its own people.

Lisa Nandy said US President Donald Trump’s threat to impose tariffs on the UK and other European allies over the issue was “deeply unhelpful and counterproductive” and that a “grown-up discussion” with the White House was needed.

“The future of Greenland is a matter for the people of Greenland and the people of the kingdom of Denmark,” he told BBC One’s program with Laura Kuenssberg on Sunday.

Nandy said he had not spoken to Trump since the prime minister announced the plan on Saturday but hoped to do so “at the earliest opportunity”.

Sir Keir Starmer called the move “completely wrong” and said his government would “pursue this issue directly with the U.S. administration.”

The White House has intensified calls in recent weeks for the US to seize the autonomous Danish territory, which Trump says is critical to US security. He did not refuse to take it by force.

The plan would impose a 10 percent tariff on goods coming from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland starting February 1, which could then rise to 25 percent until a deal is reached for the US to take over Greenland.

Trump will often “express a very strong opinion” before encouraging “dialogue,” Nandy said.

“Differences of opinion are welcomed … and there is often negotiation,” he said.

Asked if he believed Trump would roll back the tariffs, Nandy said, “I think this is actually a really serious issue and I think it deserves a much more adult discussion than us threatening the United States and the United States threatening us.”

“The one thing we will not do is compromise our position,” he added, adding that Greenland’s future depends on the decision of its people.

“That’s non-negotiable. That’s the starting point of the conversation.”

U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson told Laura Kuenssberg before the tariffs were announced that he acknowledged Greenland “is not our territory” but is “strategic to us.”

“I do not foresee military intervention,” he said. “I think diplomatic channels are the way to go.”

Trump’s announcement sparked criticism across Britain’s political spectrum.

Also on Sunday’s programme, Reform UK MP Richard Tice admitted the move would be “completely wrong”.

“His goal of protecting Greenland for all NATO allies is correct, but the way he is going about it is completely wrong.”

Meanwhile, Conservative MP Sir Jeremy Hunt also told the program that he did not believe Trump would “genuinely go ahead” with taking over the region.

“Invading the sovereign territory of a NATO ally would mean the end of NATO, and it would actually weaken America even further,” he said.

“Because so much of America’s power comes from leading the most successful military alliance in history.”

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch described the tariff plan as a “terrible idea” that would be “another burden on businesses” across the country.

“The sovereignty of Greenland should be decided only by the people of Greenland,” he said, adding: “I agree with Keir Starmer on this.”

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said Starmer’s US policy is in tatters, with Trump “punishing the UK and its NATO allies for simply doing the right thing”, while Green Party parliamentary leader Ellie Chowns described the decision as “unreasonable” and said Trump was trying to “bully” countries into compliance.