Politics
Politics Home Article | Keir Starmer Says He Will Not “Yield” To Trump On Greenland
Starmer said Trump had “put pressure” on Britain over the future of Greenland (Alamy)
3 min read
Keir Starmer has said that he “will not yield” to pressure put on him by Donald Trump to let the US take control of Greenland.
In his strongest public rebuke of the US President yet, Starmer said Trump was using the threat of tariffs and criticism of the UK’s approach to Chagos as a way of forcing the Labour government into softening its position on the future of Greenland.
However, speaking in PMQs on Wednesday, the Prime Minister said: “I will not yield, Britain will not yield on our principles and values about the future of Greenland under threats of tariffs.”
The UK and other Western governments are trying to dissuade Trump from his goal of taking control of Greenland, which the US President claims is needed to guarantee US security in the face of Russia and China. The territory currently belongs to the Kingdom of Denmark.
In the last week, Trump announced that he would impose tariffs on all goods from eight European countries, including the UK, unless they allowed him to take control of the territory.
On Tuesday, he also strongly criticised the UK plan to return the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, having previously expressed support for the move.
Starmer today told MPs: “President Trump deployed words on Chagos yesterday that were different to his previous words of welcome and support when I met him in the White House.
“He deployed those words yesterday for the express purpose of putting pressure on me and Britain in relation to my values and principles on the future of Greenland.”
The PM added: “But I do want to be clear with the House: I will not yield, Britain will not yield on our principles and values about the future of Greenland under threats of tariffs.”
Starmer also said that he and European allies would continue to “engage constructively” with the White House on Greenland, reiterating his previous comments that “the future of Greenland is for the people of Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark alone”.
Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Ed Davey, called for Starmer to take a stronger approach with Trump.
Starmer repeated that he would not yield on his principles and values, but added that “the relationship with the US matters, especially on defence, security, intelligence and nuclear capability, also on trade and prosperity”.
He added it was important to remember that “a war is waging in Europe”.
Asked on Monday whether he thought Trump was genuinely considering military action in his bid to control Greenland, Starmer said: “I don’t actually. I think that this can be resolved and should be resolved through calm discussion.”
