UK stance on Greenland’s future is ‘non-negotiable’, says Lisa Nandy

Original article by Peter Walker Senior political correspondent

The UK’s stance on Greenland is “non-negotiable”, Lisa Nandy, the culture secretary, has insisted, as European countries push back strongly against Donald Trump’s decision to impose 10% tariffs on the UK and seven other countries.

After Keir Starmer called Trump’s imposition of the tariffs “completely wrong”, with the president saying they would rise to 25% if European countries did not agree to a US plan to buy Greenland, Nandy refused to say if or how the UK would respond.

But asked if the UK would never accept the US idea, Nandy told Sky News: “Yes, of course.” She went on: “The prime minister was very clear last night that we believe that this decision on tariffs is completely wrong. The future of Greenland is for the people of Greenland and the people of the kingdom of Denmark to determine and for them alone.

“We’ve been consistent about that. That is a view that we’ve expressed to our friends and allies in the American administration.”

In a post on his Truth Social site, Trump said the tariffs would apply from 1 February to Nato members – including the UK, France and Germany – who have deployed troops to the territory in response to growing uncertainty over its future. He said the tariffs would rise to 25% on 1 June if a deal to buy Greenland had not been reached.

Trump wrote: “Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland have journeyed to Greenland, for purposes unknown … This is a very dangerous situation for the safety, security and survival of our planet.”

Nandy was pushed to say whether the UK would retaliate with its own tariffs, or through other measures, for example delaying King Charles’s state visit to the US this year, but refused to say.

“What you’re urging me to do is to come on your show and shout and yell,” she said. “We’re going to go and have that conversation with our American counterparts … We’re also going to be talking about the security of the United Kingdom and the United States, and how our interests are better served by working together.

“Our position on Greenland is non-negotiable. We’ve made that very clear and we’ll continue to make that clear. President Trump’s position on Greenland is different. Notwithstanding that it is in our collective interest to work together and not to start a war of words.”

In a statement on Saturday evening, Starmer said: “Our position on Greenland is very clear: it is part of the kingdom of Denmark and its future is a matter for the Greenlanders and the Danes.

“We have also made clear that Arctic security matters for the whole of Nato and allies should all do more together to address the threat from Russia across different parts of the Arctic.

“Applying tariffs on allies for pursuing the collective security of Nato allies is completely wrong. We will of course be pursuing this directly with the US administration.”

Opposition politicians also condemned Trump’s threats. The Conservative leader, Kemi Badenoch, said: “President Trump is completely wrong to announce tariffs on the UK over Greenland.

“These tariffs will be yet another burden for businesses across our country. The sovereignty of Greenland should only be decided by the people of Greenland.”

Nigel Farage said: “We don’t always agree with the US government and in this case we certainly don’t. These tariffs will hurt us. If Greenland is vulnerable to malign influences, then have another look at Diego Garcia.”

Ed Davey, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, said: “Starmer’s US policy lies in tatters. Trump is now punishing the UK and Nato allies just for doing the right thing.

“Time for the PM to stand firm against the bully in the White House, and work with European and Commonwealth allies to make him back down from this reckless plan.”