London | January 19, 2026: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has openly disagreed with US President Donald Trump over the issue of Greenland, advising Washington to pursue diplomacy instead of pressure.
According to Reuters, Starmer held a telephone conversation with President Trump on Sunday, during which he warned that imposing tariffs on NATO allies would be “wrong” and damaging to collective security.
Before speaking with Trump, the British prime minister had also held discussions with Denmark, the European Union, and NATO leadership. Starmer said that placing tariffs on allies who are working together for NATO’s shared security goals was not the right approach.
A spokesperson for Downing Street confirmed that Starmer spoke with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte before calling President Trump.
The spokesperson said that in all his conversations, Starmer reiterated his position on Greenland, stressing that security in the High North is a priority for all NATO allies in order to protect Euro-Atlantic interests.
Media reports said Starmer also reaffirmed his support for Greenland’s sovereignty, warning that tariffs on allied countries could harm transatlantic relations. In a post on X, Starmer stated that punishing NATO allies for collective security efforts was “entirely wrong”.
He added that Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark and that any decision about its future should be made by the people of Greenland and Denmark alone. Starmer emphasized that Arctic security is crucial for NATO and that allies must face regional challenges through cooperation.
