'I Will Not Yield': Starmer Warns Trump He Won't Back Down Over Greenland Despite Tariffs Threat

Keir Starmer has said he “will not yield” to Donald Trump on the future of Greenland despite the US president’s threats to slap tariffs on the UK for opposing him.

The prime minister said the UK will not ditch its “principles and values” regardless of Trump’s actions.

Trump has said he will impose 10% tariffs on Britain and seven other European countries from February 1 unless he gains control of Greenland.

Starmer’s support for the Arctic island also sparked an extraordinary outburst from the president on the government’s decision to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.

Trump – who supported the deal last year – said it was “an act of great stupidity”.

“There is no doubt that China and Russia have noticed this act of total weakness,” the president said.

But speaking at prime minister’s questions, Starmer said: “I have made my position clear on our principles and values. The first of those is that the future of Greenland is for the people of Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark alone.

“The second is that threats of tariffs to pressure allies are completely wrong.

“We will continue to engage constructively. I’ve had many international calls in recent days, and the prime minister of Denmark is coming to the United Kingdom tomorrow for bilateral talks.

“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, and that is my clear position.”

The PM also attacked Kemi Badenoch for backing Trump’s Chagos comments, and for describing Greenland as “a second order issue” in an interview last week.

Starmer said he had “chosen naked opportunism over the national interest”.

He said: “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.

“He wants me to yield on my position, and I’m not going to do so. Given that that was his express purpose, I’m surprised the leader of the opposition has jumped on the bandwagon.

“I had understood her position to be that she supported the government’s position on the future of Greenland.

“Now she appears to support words by President Trump to undermine the government’s position on the future of Greenland. She’s chosen naked opportunism over the national interest.”