Donald Trump has repeated his demand for control of Greenland, linking the threats to his Nobel Peace Prize snub. Meanwhile, Sky News has learned he conceded to Keir Starmer he may have been misinformed about Europe’s move to deploy troops on the territory. Follow the latest.
Monday 19 January 2026 23:00, UK
Thanks for following today’s live updates.
We’ll be back tomorrow with more from Donald Trump and the latest on his plans to acquire Greenland for the US.
Before we return, here’s a rundown of what’s been happening today:
By Beth Rigby, political editor
Keir Starmer was the most forthright I have seen him as he broke with President Trump, strongly criticising tariffs and insisting that on the matter of Greenland, the UK would not bend, whatever the consequences as he reminded the US that alliances were built on partnership “not pressure”.
But the Prime Minister also used this moment to try to de-escalate, as he stressed the importance of the US-UK relationship and dodged the matter of retaliatory tariffs in an effort to avoid any further poking of the bear.
It doesn’t, by the way, mean the UK has ruled this option out – rather it is not a preferred solution and London would rather talk about other options, but the UK pointedly chose in this moment not to follow the EU by raising the prospect of retaliatory tariffs.
That EU package, I’m told, could be released on Thursday.
As I understand it, the Prime Minister is also “very unlikely” to attend Davos this week, given that there is no big set pieces on multi-lateral issues – be that Ukraine or Greenland – for now that are likely to be resolved.
Instead, Keir Starmer will press on with his preferred method, talking intensely behind closed doors while saying as little as possible in public.
US House Speaker Mike Johnson has told Sky News that he doesn’t anticipate any kind of US military intervention in Greenland.
Speaking to lead presenter Wilfred Frost, Johnson said Donald Trump is “trying to return us to peace through strength”.
He pointed towards the appointment of a special envoy on Greenland as evidence against military action,
“We’re in good faith in this, but I do think it’s important for us to be there and have a presence,” he said.
Asked about whether the US could declare war on Greenland, Johnson explained that would have to be declared by Congress, adding he doesn’t “foresee any scenario” in which that happens.
“The commander-in-chief in our system, the president of the United States, has a broad degree of latitude under Article 2 of the Constitution to act in America’s interest, to eliminate threats to a certain extent,” he said.
“But if it comes to a large-scale military incursion you would have to involve Congress in that.”
Johnson refuted suggestions Trump could take action in Greenland without the approval of Congress, as he did in Venezuela during an operation to capture its president Nicolas Maduro.
MPs in the House of Commons have called for a boycott of the World Cup this summer in response to Donald Trump’s threats to annex Greenland.
Conservative Simon Hoare and Liberal Democrat Luke Taylor suggested England and Scotland, along with any other home nations who qualify, should pull out of the tournament, to be held across the US, Mexico and Canada, in protest.
“We need to try and work out what makes this man tick. [Trump] is thin-skinned, he has an ego and he doesn’t like to be embarrassed,” Hoare told MPs.
“Should the state visit go ahead this year? Should football teams play in American stadia for the World Cup? These are things which would embarrass the president at home.
“We now need to fight fire with fire.”
Taylor agreed, saying the move would “show Donald Trump that the only thing he responds to is his own pride”.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz says Berlin does not want an escalatory trade war with the US, warning that a sudden hike in duties would hurt both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.
Merz said that after a year of having Trump back in the White House, he noted that the US president tends to refrain from imposing tariffs after direct talks and negotiations.
But he also warned that Europe is “in a position to respond” and that EU leaders would discuss this in Brussels on Thursday.
Beijing has warned the US to stop using the “so-called China threat” as a pretext for its military actions abroad.
Donald Trump says the US needs to “own” Greenland to prevent Russia and China from doing so, claiming this is an issue of US and global security.
Asked to address the matter in Beijing today, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said: “China has stated its position on multiple occasions on Greenland.
“The international law underpinned by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter is the foundation of the current international order and must be upheld.
“We urge the US to stop using the so-called ‘China threat’ as a pretext for itself to seek selfish gains.”
Keir Starmer held calls with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney this evening, Downing Street says.
A spokesperson for the PM says he reiterated his position that the future of Greenland “belongs to the people of Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark alone” during the calls.
“He said that it was in everybody’s interests to go further to deliver on Arctic security and that the UK stands ready to contribute fully alongside our allies through NATO.
“He was clear as well that the use of tariffs against allies for pursuing collective security is completely wrong.”
By James Sillars, business and economics reporter
It’s a sea of red on financial market boards.
Stock markets across Europe are suffering as Donald Trump’s tariff threats against his NATO allies over Greenland are digested.
It’s a bitter pill to swallow as it looked like the worst of the trade war was behind us.
The FTSE 100 saw a sell-off, but it was tempered by shares soaring in the insurer Beazley following a takeover offer by a Swiss rival.
More firms on the continent are exposed to trade in goods with the US. UK trade with the US is led by services.
The top flight index in London closed the day down 0.4% – or 40 points – at 10,195.
Precious metal miners benefited as gold – a safe haven for investors in troubled times – hit a new record high, along with silver.
The DAX in Germany, Europe’s manufacturing powerhouse, was 1.3% lower in late trading while the CAC in Paris was on track for a fall of almost 2%.
US financial markets were closed for a public holiday, but futures indicate similar falls to those across the Channel will be seen at the open in New York tomorrow.
More widely, the dollar was down by almost half of 1% vs the pound and oil prices recovered from early losses. A barrel of Brent crude was trading at $64 a barrel.
That’s up by $4 on the start of the year – another that looks set to be dominated by the whims of Donald Trump.
Mounting tensions between Europe and the US moved into the sporting arena last night when a member of the crowd shouted “Leave Greenland alone” as the US national anthem was sung during an NBA game in London.
Actor Vanessa Williams was mid-performance when she was interrupted by the heckle which drew a round of applause and cheers from sections of the crowd.
Watch that moment below…
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