Greenland’s Future "Non‑Negotiable", Says Cabinet Minister
2 min read
Cabinet minister Lisa Nandy has said the future of Greenland is “non-negotiable” and a matter for its people.
She made the comments after US President Donald Trump announced on Saturday evening that he would impose fresh tariffs on eight European countries that are opposed to the takeover of Greenland.
Nandy added that the UK would not allow Trump to take Greenland without its consent or that of the kingdom of Denmark.
The Cabinet minister told Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg: “The future of Greenland is a matter for the people of Greenland and the people of the Kingdom of Denmark. That is non-negotiable.
“That is our view, and it is one that is shared by many of our European allies. Let's just look again, though, at what the President said. I mean, he made a threat to the UK and its allies to put billions of pounds of tariffs, basically extra taxes on business.
“He said these countries are playing a dangerous game, and the tariff would be due until the complete and total purchase of Greenland.”
A 10 per cent tariff on goods from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands and Finland would come in on 1 February, before later rising to 25 per cent until a deal is agreed.
The Prime Minister said Trump's remarks and threats were “completely wrong” and that the government would be pursuing them directly with the US administration.
Heads of government are expected to attend Davos 2026 including Trump and Starmer. Asked whether Starmer will confront the US President at the conference, Nandy did not give a specific answer but said achieving a deal on tariffs would be the Prime Minister's number one concern.
European leaders have reacted with fury to Trump's announcement. France's Emmanuel Macron said "no intimidation nor threat will influence us" and described the the threat of tariffs as "unacceptable".
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, meanwhile, said European leaders "will not allow ourselves to be blackmailed", while Morway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said: "Threats have no place among allies".
Reform UK leader Richard Tice also told Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg that while concerns over China and Russia in the region were "correct", the approach taken by Trump was "completely wrong".
He refused to call it bullying, but said the UK was right to say Trump's approach was incorrect.
