London , 18 January (H.S.): British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer on Saturday condemned U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat of escalating tariffs on the United Kingdom and seven European allies over Greenland as fundamentally misguided, vowing direct White House engagement to avert economic fallout.

Tariff Timeline Targets NATO Partners

Trump announced the levies via Truth Social on Saturday, January 17, imposing a 10 percent duty on all goods from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, and Finland effective February 1, with hikes to 25 percent by June 1 persisting until a deal secures U.S. purchase of the Danish Arctic territory.

He framed the measures as vital for global peace, decrying Denmark’s defenses as mere “two dogsleds” against Russian and Chinese ambitions, amid U.S. military basing rights and resource stakes like rare earth minerals thawed by climate shifts.

UK Leader Balances Rebuke with NATO Pledge

Starmer, navigating frayed transatlantic ties after UK troop deployment to Nuuk alongside allies, reaffirmed Greenland’s sovereignty as a Danish prerogative while urging collective NATO bolstering against Arctic threats from Russia. “Applying tariffs on allies for pursuing the collective security of NATO allies is completely wrong,” he declared, marking a public rift despite prior tariff reprieves and his Ukraine mediation role.

The British Chamber of Commerce warned of export strains on pharmaceuticals and aircraft parts, as existing U.S. duties compound pressures.

Cross-Party Outrage Echoes Economic Peril

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch decried the policy as a “terrible idea” burdening businesses, aligning exceptionally with Starmer on Greenland self-determination; Lib Dem chief Sir Ed Davey lamented shredded U.S. policy; Reform UK’s Nigel Farage, a Trump confidant, conceded the hit to Britain; and Green Party co-leader Ellie Chowns branded it “unhinged” bullying.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar