Donald Trump issued warning in tariffs row as world leaders communicate out | Politics | News | EUROtoday

Donald Trump’s tariff threats “risk a dangerous downward spiral” that would rip NATO aside, the UK has warned. The Kremlin celebrated the “collapse of the transatlantic union” after the US President threatened levies on “all” items from eight international locations – together with Britain – if he’s not allowed to purchase Greenland from Denmark. But the UK, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Finland, in a bombshell joint assertion, warned “tariff threats undermine transatlantic relations”.

And Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen also warned President Trump “Europe will not be blackmailed”.

A Downing Street spokeswoman also confirmed that Starmer has spoken to Trump over a call, saying in a statement: “The Prime Minister had quite a few calls with leaders this afternoon. He spoke to Prime Minister of Denmark, Mette Frederiksen; President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte. He then spoke to President Trump. In all his calls, the Prime Minister reiterated his place on Greenland. He stated that safety within the High North is a precedence for all NATO allies so as to defend Euro-Atlantic pursuits.

“He also said that applying tariffs on allies for pursuing the collective security of NATO allies is wrong.”

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will maintain an emergency press convention on Monday morning, hours after NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte held crunch talks with the US leaders.

The eight nations going through tariffs stated: “As members of Nato, we are committed to strengthening Arctic security as a shared transatlantic interest. The pre-coordinated Danish exercise Arctic Endurance conducted with Allies, responds to this necessity. It poses no threat to anyone.

“We stand in full solidarity with the Kingdom of Denmark and the people of Greenland. Building on the process begun last week, we stand ready to engage in a dialogue based on the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity that we stand firmly behind. Tariff threats undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral.

“We will continue to stand united and coordinated in our response. We are committed to upholding our sovereignty.”

President Trump stated on Saturday that the UK shall be charged a ten% tariff “on any and all goods” despatched to the US from February 1, elevated to 25% from June 1, till a deal is reached for Washington to buy Greenland from Denmark.

Denmark’s prime minister Ms Frederiksen that she is grateful for the “consistent messages” from the rest of the continent.

Ms Frederiksen said: “The Kingdom of Denmark is receiving great support. At the same time, it is now only more clear that this is a matter that goes far beyond our own borders.

“All the more important is that we stand firm on the fundamental values that created the European community. We want to cooperate and we are not the ones seeking conflict. I am pleased with the consistent messages from the rest of the continent: Europe will not be not blackmailed.”

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni revealed she spoke to Donald Trump about the crisis on Sunday, hinting the controversy could be partly blamed on poor communication.

Ms Meloni branded the tariff threat a “mistake”, including: “The prediction of an increase in tariffs against those nations that have chosen to contribute to Greenland’s security is a mistake, and I don’t agree with it.

“I feel he was considering listening, however it appears to me that from the American standpoint, the message that was coming from this aspect of the Atlantic wasn’t clear.”

But Donald Trump’s Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, defended the US approach.

He stated: “President Trump strongly believes that we cannot outsource our security. It might not be next year, might not be in five years. But down the road, this fight for the Arctic is real.

“We would keep our NATO guarantees. And if there were an attack on Greenland from Russia, from some other area, we would get dragged in.

“So better now, peace through strength, make it part of the United States, and there will not be a conflict because the United States right now, we are the hottest country in the world. We are the strongest country in the world. Europeans project weakness. U.S. projects strength.”

“What we know is that Greenland can only be defended if it is part of the US, and it will not need to be defended if it is part of the US,” he stated. “I believe that the Europeans will understand that this is best for Greenland, best for Europe and best for the United States.”