Starmer tells Trump to again off over risk of Greenland commerce battle | EUROtoday

Keir Starmer has stood as much as Donald Trump and warned him that he’s “completely wrong” to threaten tariffs over his try to take management of Greenland.

In his hardest message to the US president since final yr’s inauguration, Sir Keir denied that he had beforehand been too tender with the president and urged calm, warning {that a} commerce battle would “benefit nobody”.

The prime minister’s message got here amid fears that the UK and EU may very well be plunged right into a recession by 10 per cent and even 25 per cent tariffs, with successful to UK GDP of as much as £22bn.

Trump did little to quell international considerations by happening to trace strongly that he may order an invasion of Greenland, saying “no comment” when requested if he was ready to go that far.

Amid the rising disaster, Sir Keir dodged rising requires the proposed go to by King Charles III to the US to mark the nation’s 250th anniversary to be deserted in protest at Trump’s actions.

Sir Keir’s plea for calm got here as EU leaders led by French president Emmanuel Macron and German chancellor Friedrich Merz took a good stronger method, warning of counter tariffs towards the US financial system if Trump makes good on his threats.

The French president urged member states to activate the bloc’s “trade bazooka” to limit US companies’ entry to the one market in response to the threats.

With fears that the disaster may destroy the Nato alliance and spiral uncontrolled, even US Republican representatives on Capitol Hill warned the president of the hazards of his actions.

“There’s certainly not an appetite here for some of the options that have been talked about or considered,” Senate majority chief John Thune stated.

Senator Mitch McConnell, Thune’s predecessor, added that navy motion towards the territory could be “an unprecedented act of strategic self-harm,” which might threat “incinerating” Nato alliances.

But an unrepentant Trump doubled down on his calls for in a weird letter to the Norwegian prime minister Jonas Gahr Støre the place he appeared in charge the Scandinavian authorities for his bellicose actions, suggesting it was a consequence of being snubbed for the Nobel Peace Prize final yr.

Trump stated he “no longer feels an obligation to think purely of peace”, including: “I have done more for Nato than any other person since its founding, and now, Nato should do something for the United States.

“The world is not secure unless we have complete and total control of Greenland.”

In an emergency press convention on Monday morning Sir Keir made it clear that the UK authorities wouldn’t again down over Trump’s threats.

The prime minister urged the entire nation to unite within the face of Trump’s pledge to invade Greenland and slap tariffs on the UK and different European allies.

He stated the dispute over Greenland, which Trump desires to take over due to its strategic Arctic location and mineral wealth, must be resolved by means of “calm discussion between allies” somewhat than navy motion or a commerce battle.

Sir Keir additionally signalled Britain wouldn’t interact in a commerce battle with the Americans and impose retaliatory tariffs, insisting this was “not the right way to resolve differences within an alliance”.

He stated: “A partnership does not mean abandoning principle. That is why it’s important to be clear about who we stand with, what we stand for, and where our interests lie.

“This is a moment for the whole country to pull together, so I warmly welcome the support we’ve had with regards to Greenland and the proposed tariffs from the leader of the opposition [Kemi Badenoch]. I thank her for her support.”

He additionally insisted the “right way to approach an issue of this seriousness is through calm discussion between allies”.

“Any decision about the future status of Greenland belongs to the people of Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark alone. That right is fundamental,” he continued.

“The use of tariffs against allies is completely wrong. It is not the right way to resolve differences within an alliance, nor is it helpful to frame efforts to strengthen Greenland security as a justification for economic pressure.”

Sir Keir prompt he didn’t suppose Mr Trump was genuinely ready to make use of the US navy to annex Greenland, and insisted there was no want for the UK to now take a aspect within the rising divide between the US and Europe.

He stated: “I don’t think it’s right for us to choose between the US and Europe. That’s not a new position today. That’s the position I’ve consistently held, as have previous governments.

“Because we are allies with our European partners and allies with the US, and the strength in being able to keep both those alliances has served us well over the last 80 years.”

In an indication of solidarity, international secretary Yvette Cooper welcomed her Danish counterpart Lars Lokke Rasmussen for talks in London.

She reiterated Sir Keir’s feedback, saying: “The future of Greenland is for the Greenlanders and for the Danes alone. Greenland is a part of the Kingdom of Denmark and those principles around sovereignty are crucial.

“It’s also why we have made very clear that the use of tariffs and threats against allies in this way is completely wrong and counter-productive.”

Ms Cooper additionally careworn the necessity to strengthen Arctic safety towards the risk from Russia.

Mr Rasmussen stated he and Ms Cooper had been “in almost daily contact for the last week or so”, including: “I’m not here in order to ask for your support, I’m here to thank you for your support.”