Trump previously threatened to impose tariffs on countries that sent troops to Greenland for “unknown purposes.” According to media reports, Starmer tried to convince him that the deployment of troops was intended to protect US security, and not to provoke.
A British government press release said that in addition to Trump, Starmer spoke with Danish Prime Minister Matte Frederiksen, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. During each conversation, Starmer explained that security in Northern Europe was a priority for all Alliance allies to protect Euro-Atlantic interests.
Starmer considers the introduction of tariffs against allies for their participation in NATO collective security “wrong.”
Sky News notes that diplomats are working to convince Trump to abandon the tariffs and return to dialogue on Greenland. At the same time, if the president continues to open up the possibility of military action, European troops may become necessary to defend the territory.
Analysts call the situation around Greenland an unprecedented test for the transatlantic alliance.
Context
Trump has repeatedly repeated that the United States must gain control of Greenland, otherwise it will allegedly be captured by China and the Russian Federation. He also said that the US could use military force to take over Greenland.
On January 13, Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said that between the United States and Denmark, the country chooses Denmark and “does not want” to belong to, be part of, or be governed by the United States.
Against the backdrop of statements by the American president, a number of countries, including Denmark, Germany, France, Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands, and Great Britain, sent military personnel to Greenland for reconnaissance purposes in preparation for military exercises. In response, on January 17, Trump announced the introduction of tariffs for a number of European countries.
On the same day, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the UK issued a joint statement noting that such actions by the American president undermine transatlantic relations.
