The UK government will not change its position on Greenland despite the threat of US tariffs, Lisa Nandy said.
Echoing Sir Keir Starmer’s comments, the culture secretary told told Times Radio that there are “serious challenges in the Arctic region” which countries need to “work together” to resolve.
Asked if the UK would keep in line with Europe, she added: “I can guarantee that our position, which is based on principles about the sovereignty of countries and their own right to determine their own futures, will not change.”
She also said it is “perfectly possible to have disagreements with some of your closest friends and allies”. Nandy added: “Our relationship with the United States is second to none and has helped to keep generations of people here in the UK and over in the United States safe, and we’ll continue to do that.”
Lisa Nandy, the culture secretary
WIKTOR SZYMANOWICZ/FUTURE PUBLISHING/GETTY IMAGES
‘Greenland not for sale’, say protesters
A statue of President Trump carried aloft by protesters in Copenhagen on Saturday
JOHAN NILSSON/TT/SHUTTERSTOCK
Thousands of people chanting “Greenland is not for sale” protested in several Danish cities on Saturday after President Trump threatened to impose tariffs on countries that oppose his drive to seize the Arctic island.
In Copenhagen, demonstrators waving the red-and-white Erfalasorput flag of Greenland, assembled in City Hall Square before marching towards the American embassy. Banners read: “Hands off Greenland” and “Make America Smart Again”.
Also on Saturday, protesters gathered in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, where organisers planned to march to the American consulate.
Read more: Protests in Denmark against Trump takeover
Germany’s AfD turn on Trump over tariffs
The hard-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which normally prides itself on excellent relations with the Maga movement, has turned on President Trump over the tariffs.
Tino Chrupalla, the AfD’s joint leader, told the Welt am Sonntag newspaper that the “imperial policy” had to be “viewed critically”, although he questioned whether Trump was serious in his insistence on annexing Greenland.
New US tariffs would hit EU economies
Economists have already modelled the likely effects of across-the-board 25 per cent US tariffs on Europe’s larger economies during trade tensions with Washington last year.
Estimates suggest that the overall hit to the European Union would be about 0.5 per cent of GDP over the medium term.
In the case of Germany, which is unusually dependent on goods exports to the United States, it would be between 0.5 and 1 per cent of GDP over two years, according to a study by Commerzbank.
France’s growth would slow by about 0.3 or 0.4 per cent of GDP.
Leading MEP calls for suspension of US trade deal
The most powerful politician in the European parliament has paved the way for Brussels to suspend its trade deal with the United States in response to President Trump’s fresh tariffs.
Manfred Weber, a Bavarian conservative MEP and head of the chamber’s largest political bloc, said the time had come for the European Union’s zero tariffs on US goods to be “put on hold”.
That would probably result in the EU imposing tariffs on the World Trade Organisation’s “most favoured nation” terms, ranging from as little as 1 per cent on some goods to 10 per cent on cars and 25 per cent on steel.
EU leaders accuse Trump of ‘blackmail’
European leaders said they would not be swayed by “blackmail” after Trump announced the tariffs.
Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, said: “Territorial integrity and sovereignty are fundamental principles of international law. Tariffs would undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral,” she added. The EU’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, said: “China and Russia must be having a field day”.
Ulf Kristersson, the Swedish prime minister, said: “We won’t let ourselves be blackmailed.”
France’s President Macron vowed: “No intimidation nor threat will influence us.” He added that Europeans will respond in a “united and co-ordinated manner”.
Starmer condemns tariffs as ‘completely wrong’
Sir Keir Starmer described the tariffs, adding to what Britain already pays, as “completely wrong”.
He said the government’s position on Greenland was “very clear — it is part of the Kingdom of Denmark and its future is a matter for the Greenlanders and the Danes”.
Donald Trump and Sir Keir Starmer, pictured during the UK state visit in September
LEON NEAL/REUTERS
The prime minister added: “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.”
It is understood that Britain, which has taken a less combative approach publicly on Greenland than other European allies, was not warned about Trump’s tariff announcement.
Trump to impose tariffs on Nato allies over Greenland
President Trump has announced tariffs on UK and other Nato allies opposing an American takeover of Greenland.
In a post on Truth Social on Saturday, Trump said a 10 per cent import tax would start next month and that it was time for “Denmark to give back” as “world peace is at stake”.
He took aim at eight European countries, including the UK, which took part in a Nato training exercise in Greenland last week.
Britain sent one military officer at Denmark’s request. The European contingent included 15 soldiers from Germany, 13 officers from France, three officers from Sweden, two from Finland, two from Norway, and a Dutch naval officer.
Trump said his administration was “immediately open to negotiation” with the countries involved. He said the tariffs would only end when “a deal is reached for the complete and total purchase of Greenland”.