Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has publicly rejected Donald Trump's threat of fresh tariffs on the UK, labelling the US President's underlying plan to seize control of Greenland as "completely wrong".
The confrontation emerged over the weekend, following Mr Trump's return to the White House, when he unveiled plans for initial tariffs of ten per cent, later increased to twenty five per cent, on Britain and other nations. This punitive measure is linked to international resistance against his controversial proposal for Greenland.
PM Advocates Dialogue Over Sanctions
Convening an emergency press conference from Downing Street on Monday morning, Sir Keir outlined the UK's official stance. He informed reporters that while the two allies have "differences of opinion" over the Arctic territory, these should be settled through measured dialogue rather than trade sanctions.
The Prime Minister dismissed suggestions he had been too accommodating towards the Trump administration, arguing that the government's steady approach had helped secure hundreds of billions of pounds in inward investment, supporting jobs and businesses across the country.
Security Partnership Deemed Vital
Despite the sharp disagreement on trade and Greenland, Sir Keir was emphatic in stressing that the United States remains a close ally. He underlined the extensive collaboration on defence, security, and intelligence, describing the UK-US relationship in this sphere as the strongest of any two nations.
"This partnership serves a vital function in keeping the public safe," the Prime Minister stated, making clear that the essential security ties were not in question.
UK Distances Itself from EU Retaliation Plans
In a significant move, the Prime Minister also separated the UK's response from that of the European Union. The EU is reportedly contemplating retaliatory tariffs on American goods worth over ninety billion euros.
When questioned if Britain would join such measures, Sir Keir stated that a tariff war would harm businesses, workers and families, and was not in anyone's interests. His focus, he said, was on engagement with both European allies and President Trump to prevent any further escalation.
The episode underscores the delicate balancing act facing the Prime Minister in managing relations with a volatile US administration while protecting British economic and security interests.
