Sir Keir Starmer will set out Britain’s response to Donald Trump’s latest tariff threats, giving a press conference from Downing Street amid increasing global turbulence and the escalating possibility of a renewed trade war.
He is likely to face questions on the government’s approach to dealing with the increasingly volatile US administration, amid growing calls for the prime minister to stand up to Mr Trump.
It comes after the US president said on Saturday that the UK will be charged a 10 per cent tariff “on any and all goods” sent to the US from February 1, increased to 25 per cent from June 1, until a deal is reached for Washington to purchase Greenland from Denmark.
He said the same would apply to Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Finland, and that they had “journeyed to Greenland, for purposes unknown”.
As the prime minister battles devastating approval ratings and growing questions over the direction of the government’s domestic agenda, he will be hoping he can regain a grip on the narrative surrounding his foreign policy after the US president appeared to blindside world leaders on Saturday.
Sir Keir will use the press conference to set out the UK’s approach to working with its allies and reiterate Britain’s commitment to NATO, Downing Street sources said.
“He will make clear his determination to work at home and abroad to protect the security, living standards, and future of the British people”, they added.
The prime minister has been clear in his opposition to Mr Trump’s latest intervention, telling the US president over the phone on Sunday afternoon that “applying tariffs on allies for pursuing the collective security of NATO allies is wrong”.
Sir Keir – who also spoke to Danish PM Mette Frederiksen, European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte on Sunday afternoon – used the phone call to reiterate his position on Greenland, telling the US president that “security in the High North is a priority for all NATO allies”.
It comes after the UK and seven other affected European countries warned that US tariff threats over the future of Greenland “undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral”.
In a joint statement on Sunday, the countries said they will “stand united and coordinated” in their response.
Earlier this week, the UK confirmed it had sent a military officer to Greenland as Denmark stepped up its military presence in the Arctic and High North.
Downing Street said they were sent at Denmark’s request to join a reconnaissance group ahead of a planned Arctic endurance exercise, but denied it amounted to a “deployment”.
But Mr Trump said the countries were playing a “very dangerous game”.
He said it was “time for Denmark to give back”, adding: “China and Russia want Greenland, and there is not a thing that Denmark can do about it.
In a statement on Saturday, Sir Keir reiterated that Greenland 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”, he added.
“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.”
