Keir Starmer to meet Danish PM after Donald Trump calls off Greenland tariff war
The US president on Wednesday evening said he and Nato chief Mark Rutte had ‘formed the framework of a future deal’ for security in the Arctic region.
Sir Keir Starmer will meet Denmark’s prime minister a day after Donald Trump backed down on his threat to impose tariffs on the UK and other Nato allies who opposed his ambitions to annex Greenland.
The US president rowed back on his threats on Wednesday evening after a meeting with Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte.
The pair met on the fringes of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where they “formed the framework of a future deal” for security in the Arctic region.
The announcement came at the end of a tumultuous day for Nato’s European members after Mr Trump ruled out force to secure Greenland, a self-governing territory of Denmark.
He had threatened eight Nato countries, including the UK, with new 10% tariffs as a result of their opposition to his ambitions for the mineral-rich territory.
But after what he described as “very productive meeting” with Mr Rutte in Davos, Mr Trump suggested he had reconsidered.
On his Truth Social platform, the US president said: “We have formed the framework of a future deal with respect to Greenland and, in fact, the entire Arctic Region. This solution, if consummated, will be a great one for the United States of America, and all Nato Nations.
“Based upon this understanding, I will not be imposing the tariffs that were scheduled to go into effect on February 1st.”
Denmark’s foreign minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said the day was “ending on a better note than it began”.
He added: “Now, let’s sit down and find out how we can address the American security concerns in the Arctic while respecting the red lines of the KoD (Kingdom of Denmark).”
Mette Frederiksen, the Danish prime minister, will visit Britain on Thursday to meet Sir Keir, when Greenland’s sovereignty is likely to be on the agenda.
There were few details of any agreement Mr Trump and the Nato chief may have reached on Wednesday evening.
The US president told reporters it was a “long-term deal” and an “infinite deal”, but would not directly answer if the agreement meant the US would gain ownership of Greenland.
UK Government insiders appeared content that Sir Keir’s approach – calling for calm heads and diplomacy, rather than launching attacks on Mr Trump – had been vindicated.
In his most open statement of opposition to the US president yet, the Prime Minister told the House of Commons on Wednesday he would “not yield” in his stance over Greenland and vowed to stand up to Mr Trump.
