Washington/Oslo, Jan 19: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called for “calm discussion” on Monday as the United States moves to impose significant trade penalties on European allies in a bid to seize control of Greenland. The 10 percent import tax, slated for February, targets eight nations that have supported Denmark’s sovereignty over the island, creating a fresh rift in the NATO alliance.
The trade measures are seen as retaliation for the deployment of Arctic security training troops to Greenland by European nations last week. While Trump suggested the tariffs are leverage for negotiations, he also linked the move to his dissatisfaction with European leadership and his lack of a Nobel Peace Prize.
“I think this can be resolved and should be resolved through calm discussion,” Starmer said during a press briefing. He described the threat of a trade war as “completely wrong,” though he noted that being pragmatic did not mean the United Kingdom would abandon its core principles.
The European Union is currently preparing a unified response, with European Council President Antonio Costa stating the bloc is ready to defend itself against any form of coercion. Six of the eight countries facing the new tariffs are EU members.
In Washington, the White House has maintained a hardline stance. Trump noted in his latest communication to European counterparts that his focus has shifted toward what is “good and proper for the United States of America” rather than purely peaceful resolutions. This shift follows his public coveting of the Nobel Prize, which was awarded last year to Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado.
Despite the rhetoric, Starmer told reporters he did not believe the situation would devolve into military action. He said his focus remained on ensuring the dispute did not reach a stage where retaliatory tariffs from the UK would be necessary.
Denmark’s defense minister and Greenland’s foreign minister are scheduled to meet with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in Brussels to discuss the security implications of the American claims.
