Donald Trump was tonight told tariff threats are ‘no way to treat allies’ as MPs lined up to condemn his outburst in the row over Greenland.
The US President has threatened to slap tariffs on the UK and other European nations until a deal is reached for him to purchase Greenland from Denmark.
He has also not ruled out military action to achieve his aim of taking the territory, which is a semi-autonomous part of the Kingdom of Denmark.
But, speaking in the House of Commons on Monday evening, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper warned Mr Trump his threats are ‘unwarranted’ and ‘counter-productive’.
She addressed MPs after earlier welcoming her Danish counterpart Lars Lokke Rasmussen for talks in London, while she cnfimed she had also spoken with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
‘We have agreed to take forward further discussions on this issue,’ she said.
Ms Cooper reiterated her backing for Denmark – a NATO member – in the dispute with Mr Trump, telling the Commons the future of Greenland ‘is a matter for Greenlanders and the Danes, and them alone’.
‘This reflects the fundamental principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity to which this whole House is committed,’ she added.
‘The use or the threat of tariffs against allies in this way is completely wrong. It is unwarranted and it is counter-productive.’
Donald Trump was tonight told tariff threats are ‘no way to treat allies’ as MPs lined up to condemn his outburst in the row over Greenland
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper warned the US President his threats are ‘unwarranted’ and ‘counter-productive’
Ms Cooper addressed MPs after earlier welcoming her Danish counterpart Lars Lokke Rasmussen for talks in London.
Mr Trump has argued the US needs to acquire Greenland for national security and highlighted a threat from Russia and China in the region.
But Ms Cooper told MPs that Arctic security ‘can only be effectively addressed and maintained through a co-operation between transatlantic allies and, crucially, through NATO’.
‘So instead of divisions that only aid our adversaries, we now need a serious and constructive dialogue about our Arctic security, which is built on respect for sovereignty and collective security, and the rules which underpin our alliance,’ she added.
The Foreign Secretary said Denmark was a ‘close ally of the UK and the US’, continuing: ‘Denmark has long been one of the US’s closest allies, a proud NATO member that has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the UK and with the US, including at real human cost, in recent decades.
‘Alliances endure because they are built on respect and partnership, not pressure – and tariffs threats like this are no way to treat allies.’
Ms Cooper admitted NATO allies ‘can and should do more’ to prtect Arctic security, but added: ‘A trade war would hurt workers and businesses on both sides of the Atlantic. It would be in no-one’s interests.’
Senior Tory MP Dame Priti Patel, the shadow foreign secretary, also criticised Mr Trump’s threats as ‘completely wrong’.
She said Britain needs to ‘leverage the strength’ of its special relationship with America to prevent tariffs.
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said the US President was ‘acting like an international gangster’ over Greenland.
It came after Sir Keir Starmer earlier on Monday branded Mr Trump’s threats as ‘completely wrong’ – but signalled the UK will not hit back.
Despite insisting the Government is ready to defend ‘fundamental’ principles, the Prime Minister struck a notably different tone to other European leaders.
He stressed the ‘profound’ nature of the transatlantic relationship, highlighting that even the nuclear deterrent relies on it.
The comments came at an emergency Downing Street press conference after Mr Trump snubbed a personal plea from Sir Keir and renewed his extraordinary demands for the Danish territory.
In a letter to Norway’s premier circulated overnight, Mr Trump also linked his grab for Greenland to the refusal to give him the Nobel Peace prize.
Sir Keir acknowledged that people were angry and stressed that the UK must ‘stand up for our values’ – but argued that should be done through ‘calm discussion’.
He appeared to dismiss the prospect of tit-for-tat retaliation to the tariff threats, even though European powers have been making clear they are ready to respond in kind. He also suggested that the King’s state visit to the US in April will not be cancelled.
The premier said he did not believe that Mr Trump was seriously considering invading Greenland – something he has repeatedly refused to rule out.
But he said: ‘There is a principle here that cannot be set aside because it goes to the heart of how stable and trusted international cooperation works.’
Sir Keir argued that the future of Greenland was for Denmark and the people of Greenland, adding ‘that right is fundamental and we support it’.
‘Alliances endure because they are built on respect… not on pressure,’ he added.
Mr Trump insisted overnight that he will get his way despite the personal plea and a joint statement from Western leaders warning of a ‘dangerous downward spiral’ in relations.
Posting on his own Truth Social site in the early hours, Mr Trump said: ‘NATO has been telling Denmark, for 20 years, that ‘you have to get the Russian threat away from Greenland’.
Sir Keir Starmer earlier on Monday branded Mr Trump’s trade war threats as ‘completely wrong’
Posting on his own Truth Social site in the early hours, Mr Trump said: ‘NATO has been telling Denmark, for 20 years, that ‘you have to get the Russian threat away from Greenland”
‘Unfortunately, Denmark has been unable to do anything about it. Now it is time, and it will be done!!! President Donald J. Trump.’
Asked if he genuinely believed the US President was considering military action, Sir Keir told reporters: ‘I don’t, actually.
‘I think that this can be resolved and should be resolved through calm discussion, but with the application of the principles and values that I’ve set out in terms of who decides the future of Greenland, and making clear that the use of tariffs in this way is completely wrong.’
Mr Trump has vowed to impose a 10 per cent levy on all imports from countries opposing his landgrab – rising to 25 per cent if they have not caved in by June.
There are fears the move could cause major damage to the UK’s pharma and car manufacturing industries.
Some economists have raised concerns it could even tip the country into recession, partly due to the uncertainty created by Mr Trump’s chaotic behaviour.
However, while thanking Kemi Badenoch for her support, Sir Keir took a swipe at those pushing him to condemn the US and retaliate.
‘At moments like this, there will always be people who reach for the performative, who think an angry social media post or grandstanding is a substitute for hard work,’ he said.
‘That’s an understandable instinct, but it’s not effective. It never has been.’
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said it was ‘always difficult to tell’ whether Mr Trump was bluffing.
‘But to use economic threats against the country that’s been considered to be your closest ally for over a hundred years is not the kind of thing we would expect,’ he said today.
‘It’s wrong, it’s bad, it would be very very hurtful to us. I think we’re in a position where we can negotiate – we’re not tied.
‘We’re not tied by European Union trade rules, that does give us an advantage in these negotiations, but I would just say this: I’m all for Trump taking out enemies of the West. Maduro, the Iranian regime.
‘But, if he falls out with his own allies and leaves America isolated, that would be a very bad place to be.
‘I’m worried about it, I’m concerned about it, I’ve always been a supporter of the President since way before he got elected for the first time. But I will be having some words with the American administration in Davos on Wednesday on this issue.’
European leaders have been signalling a far more aggressive response.
The bloc is considering deploying its so-called trade ‘bazooka’ for the first time in retaliation, an economic tool that would hit the US with £81billion in tariffs.
The ‘big bazooka’ is an anti-coercion instrument adopted in 2023 to combat political blackmail.
It allows the EU to restrict countries from participating in public tenders, limit trade licences and shut off access to the single market.
But there was no sign of the White House backing down.
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Ms Cooper (left) and Chancellor Rachel Reeves (right) were in Downing Street for Sir Keir’s press conference this morning
Greenlanders have been protesting in favour of self-governance and against US ownership
In a letter responding to a note from Jonas Støre about his tariff threats, Mr Trump linked his wish to seize Greenland from Denmark to not being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, which he has repeatedly said he ‘deserves’.
‘Dear Jonas: Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace, although it will always be predominant, but can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America’, Mr Trump reportedly said.
Norwegian tabloid VG claims to have spoken to Mr Støre who confirmed the letter is genuine.
The PM also said he has told Mr Trump repeatedly that it is ‘well known’ that the Norwegian government does not decide who wins the Nobel Peace Prize.
Mr Trump claimed Denmark only owns Greenland because ‘a boat landed there hundreds of years ago’. He went on: ‘Denmark cannot protect that land from Russia or China, and why do they have a ‘right of ownership’ anyway? There are no written documents’.
