Starmer rules out retaliatory tariffs against US over Greenland | Keir Starmer
Keir Starmer has ruled out imposing retaliatory tariffs on the US after Donald Trump threatened them against NATO allies to try to secure Greenland, saying it would be “the wrong thing to do”.
The Prime Minister said US tariffs would harm the British economy and were “in no one’s interests”. The official added that Britain would instead prefer to resolve the issue through a “calm discussion” between allies.
But despite Trump’s threats, he told an emergency Downing Street press conference that he did not think the US president was actually considering military action in the Arctic region.
“I think this can and should be resolved through calm discussion,” he said.
“Any decisions regarding the future status of Greenland rest solely with the Greenlandic people and the Danish crown. This right is fundamental,” he continued.
Answering questions after a short speech, Starmer repeatedly emphasized that US cooperation in areas such as intelligence and nuclear deterrence and in Ukraine is vital.
“The last thing we need to do is throw all this away and pretend it doesn’t matter anymore. It does, but we don’t do that by pretending our differences don’t exist,” he said.
Starmer stated that he was determined to keep UK-US relations “strong, constructive and results-oriented”, adding that defense and security ties between the two countries were in the national interest.
But he added: “Threatening tariffs against allies is wrong, completely wrong.”
Starmer’s opening statement was carefully worded but he strongly reiterated the UK’s strong rejection of Trump’s suggestion that the US annex or buy Greenland and condemned the tariff threat against eight European countries aimed at pressuring them over Greenland.
“There is a principle here that cannot be set aside because it underpins how stable and reliable international cooperation works,” he said.
“And therefore any decision regarding the future status of Greenland rests solely with the Greenlandic people and the Danish crown. This right is fundamental and we will support it.”
Starmer said he insisted on the need for “a solution based on partnership, facts and mutual respect” in talks with European and NATO leaders as well as Trump on Sunday.
This determined stance could put Starmer on a collision course with the USA.
But Starmer told reporters: “The trade war is not in our interests and so my first task is to make sure we don’t get to that point, that’s what I’m focused on at the moment…
“I don’t want to lose sight of the real purpose here, which is to avoid the seriousness that the trade war will bring,” he said.
He added: “We need to find a pragmatic, sensible and sustainable way forward that avoids some of the consequences that would be very serious for our country.”
Starmer defended his diplomatic approach to Trump and underlined the security relationship, despite growing pressure at home for stronger condemnation of Trump.
“Whatever the understandable reaction of the British public over the weekend, I would like to emphasize that it is clearly in our interests to have a strong relationship with the United States on defence, security, intelligence and nuclear capability.”
But he added: “Alliances are lasting because they are based on respect and partnership, not pressure. That’s why I said imposing tariffs on allies is completely wrong.”
“Strong and respectful alliances require the maturity to be able to say where we disagree, and we disagree on this, and I’ve been clear on that, and I’ve talked to the president about it, and I’ll continue to do that.”
Asked if he understood why many Britons see attempts to cooperate with Trump as pointless, Starmer did not dismiss the idea.
“I completely understand why what President Trump said over the weekend about tariffs was received so badly in this country,” he said.
“It’s important for me, as prime minister of the UK, to respond to this by setting out what our principles and values are, and not pretending that we don’t have differences.”
