From Starmer to Macron: European leaders fume over Trump's Greenland tariffs

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned US President Donald Trump’s recent threats to impose tariffs on nations supporting Denmark over the Greenland saga, calling the threats “completely wrong”. The remarks from the British premier came after Trump said on Saturday that the levies would apply from 1 February to Nato members – including the UK, France and Germany.

The European nations came under the radar after they deployed troops to Greenland in response to growing uncertainty over its future. Trump maintained that the tariffs would rise to 25 per cent on June 1 if a deal to buy Greenland had not been reached.

“Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Finland have journeyed to Greenland, for purposes unknown … This is a very dangerous situation for the Safety, Security, and Survival of our Planet," Trump said in a post on TruthSocial.

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How Starmer reacted to Trump’s latest tariff tirade

On Saturday, Starmer took to X to call out Trump’s latest warnings. “Our position on Greenland is very clear – it is part of the Kingdom of Denmark, and its future is a matter for the Greenlanders and the Danes," the British Prime Minister wrote in the post.

“We have also made clear that Arctic security matters for the whole of Nato and allies should all do more together to address the threat from Russia across different parts of the Arctic. Applying tariffs on allies for pursuing the collective security of Nato allies is completely wrong. We will, of course, be pursuing this directly with the US administration," he added.

The British opposition leaders also took a similar stance on the matter. The Conservative leader, Kemi Badenoch, said: “President Trump is completely wrong to announce tariffs on the UK over Greenland," she wrote in a statement.

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“These tariffs will be yet another burden for businesses across our country. The sovereignty of Greenland should only be decided by the people of Greenland," she furthered. Meanwhile, Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, said: “Starmer’s US policy lies in tatters. Trump is now punishing the UK and Nato allies just for doing the right thing."

“Time for the PM to stand firm against the bully in the White House, and work with European and Commonwealth allies to make him back down from this reckless plan," Davey averred. The Reform Party leader Nigel Farage pointed out that Trump’s Greenland tariffs would “hurt” the UK.

“We don’t always agree with the US government, and in this case we certainly don’t," he said. Meanwhile, Stella Creasy, the Labour MP for Walthamstow, said: “Trump’s tariffs and threats mean it’s make-up time. If we can’t rely on America and we don’t want to cosy up to China, the answer is to get serious about our strategic future with Europe."

“Nato needs this too – the reset must be real, and it must happen quickly for all our sakes," she added.

Other European leaders react

Condemnation also poured in from France, with the country’s President Emmanuel Macron hitting back at Trump’s tariff threats. The French leader went on to warn that “no amount of intimidation” will persuade European nations to change their course on Greenland.

Macron immediately called the tariff threats “unacceptable”. He said they had “no place” in a context in which Europe was trying to defend Greenland, and in which Denmark was an EU member state, Nato member and signatory to the UN charter embodying international law.

“France is committed to the sovereignty and independence of nations, in Europe and elsewhere. This guides our choices. It underpins our commitment to the United Nations and our charter,” Macron said. “It is for this reason that we support and will continue to support Ukraine, and that we have built a coalition of the willing for robust and lasting peace, to defend these principles and our security," he furthered.

Macron’s message was also echoed by the Swedish prime minister, Ulf Kristersson, who warned the EU would not be “blackmailed” by Trump, and the Norwegian prime minister, Jonas Gahr Støre, who said “threats have no place among allies”. In a joint statement, EU leaders said “tariffs would undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral”. EU ambassadors are expected to meet for an emergency session on Sunday.

Trump’s threats appeared to have fired up the EU. Manfred Weber, the head of the European People’s Party, the largest voting bloc in the institute, said they would have to pause the legal rubber-stamping process. The Trump tariffs are threatening Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands and Finland, the countries that have been most vocal in their opposition to Trump’s intentions to take over Greenland.