Edith HejbergTrump threatened to impose tariffs on European nations, including the UK, if they opposed US efforts to gain control of the Danish territory.
A tense ten-minute phone call between UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and US President Donald Trump has laid bare growing tensions between the two allies.
The call, which took place while Starmer was at Chequers, focused on Trump’s renewed push to acquire Greenland, an idea previously floated during his first term. Starmer cancelled a domestic cost-of-living speech to prioritise the transatlantic fallout.
Tariff threats spark emergency diplomacy
Trump threatened to impose tariffs on European nations, including the UK, if they opposed US efforts to gain control of the Danish territory.
Starmer reportedly told Trump that punishing NATO allies over Greenland was “wrong,” signalling an attempt to hold the diplomatic line without escalating the standoff.
Emergency press conference follows the call
Just a day later, Starmer held an emergency press conference, making his position clear: “Britain stands with Denmark and our European allies,” he said.
He warned that tariff threats against NATO partners would undermine transatlantic unity and pledged to pursue dialogue instead of conflict.
Starmer gets tough in Parliament
By Wednesday, Starmer had taken a firmer stance in the House of Commons. During Prime Minister’s Questions, he declared, “Britain will not yield on our principles and values” in the face of pressure from the US.
His rhetoric marked a notable shift toward confrontation in what had been a cautious diplomatic relationship.
Trump softens tone but remains vague
In a Davos speech later that week, Trump appeared to backtrack slightly. He said that “no force” would be used to acquire Greenland and alluded to a “major deal” discussed with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
However, no concrete details of such an agreement were revealed, leaving questions hanging.
UK foreign policy under internal pressure
Within Westminster, senior figures like Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper are believed to be urging a more assertive stance with Washington. Cooper is reportedly pushing Starmer to distance Britain from what she sees as excessive deference to Trump’s agenda, particularly after the Greenland row.
Starmer condemns Trump’s NATO claims
On Friday, Starmer criticised Trump’s remarks at Davos, where the US president accused European NATO troops of avoiding frontline duties in Afghanistan.
Starmer called the comments “insulting and frankly appalling,” a sentiment echoed by many in Britain’s defence and diplomatic circles.
Trump’s military record under renewed scrutiny
Trump’s criticism of NATO forces has reopened debate about his own military history. He never served in the US armed forces, citing “bone spurs” during the Vietnam War.
Critics have labelled him a “draft dodger,” including British pop icon Rod Stewart, who launched a stinging attack on Trump’s record.
Media and political backlash intensifies
GB News featured a fiery segment in which commentators branded Starmer “a disgrace” and Trump “stupid and ignorant.” Both leaders are facing growing criticism, Starmer for being “out of his depth,” and Trump for alienating allies at a critical geopolitical moment.
The King’s US visit hangs in the balance
The fallout has extended to royal diplomacy. Pressure is mounting on Starmer to cancel King Charles’s planned state visit to the US, amid fears that the trip would signal support for Trump’s Greenland ambitions.
Polls show a split public opinion on whether the visit should proceed.
A strained ‘special relationship’
The dispute over Greenland has underscored how fragile the so-called ‘special relationship’ between the UK and US has become.
While Starmer is trying to draw a line without breaking ties, Trump’s unpredictability has made diplomacy increasingly difficult to navigate.
Popularity woes at home for Starmer
Amid this foreign policy turmoil, Starmer’s domestic approval ratings are sliding. Critics accuse him of mishandling key issues, and with local elections looming in May, his leadership faces real pressure.
The Greenland row has only added to doubts about his global credibility.
What’s next for UK-US relations?
Despite Trump stepping back from immediate tariff threats, the Greenland controversy has clearly shifted the diplomatic landscape.
With no clear resolution in sight, and the UK now signalling greater independence, the future of UK-US relations looks more uncertain than ever.
