UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer says President Trump's threat to apply tariffs over Greenland is "completely wrong"
The US president has announced plans to hit the UK, Denmark and other European countries with a 10% tariff on "all or any goods" exported to the US from 1 February
Trump says the tariffs will remain in place until "such time as a Deal is reached for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland" – why does Trump want Greenland?
Starmer says the UK will pursue the matter with the US administration and adds that the position of Greenland is "a matter for the Greenlanders and the Danes"
This is a surprise announcement that has injected a newfound sense of urgency into the issue of Greenland, writes our White House correspondent
"Enough is enough," one Danish MP says, as the presidents of the European Council and Commission warn tariffs would "undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral"
Edited by Jack Burgess, Rorey Bosotti and Caitlin Wilson
Nick Eardley
Political correspondent
As noted earlier, the UK has tried very hard indeed to avoid getting into public conflict with the Trump administration. Greenland has been different.
The prime minister has been clear from early on that the UK believes it is for the people of Greenland and Denmark to make the decision about its future.
He has been backed by political opponents here – and we've heard a similar message from many European allies. And tonight – Sir Keir Starmer is standing firm.
Yes – he says Nato needs to do more to ensure Arctic security.
That's a message to President Trump that the UK is willing to play a part – in a similar way to Ukraine where European countries took on more financial responsibility.
But this is a rare public rebuke from the prime minister to the president.
It marks an important test for the 'special relationship'.
Jessica Parker
BBC News Berlin correspondent
It was last week when Germany announced that it would send a 13-strong reconnaissance team to Greenland – at Denmark’s invitation and alongside other nations.
According to Berlin that small, brief mission was due to wrap up today.
But it appears to have sparked a big reaction from Donald Trump.
In response, the German government has, so far, simply said it’s talking to European partners and will decide what to do next "in due course".
But the US president’s latest tariffs bombshell will trigger alarm in Berlin given the US is Germany's top export market.
On top of that, Germany's economy is only edging back towards growth after figures showed a modest 0.2 per cent expansion in 2025.
Donald Trump's proposed tariffs would "undermine relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral," the leaders of the European Council and European Commission have warned.
In a joint letter, Antonio Costa and Ursula von der Leyen stress: "Territorial integrity and sovereignty are fundamental principles of international law."
They reference recent moves to send European troops and vessels to Greenland, saying it "responds to the need to strengthen Arctic security and poses no threat to anyone".
"The EU stands in full solidarity with Denmark and the people of Greenland. Dialogue remains essential, and we are committed to building on the process begun already last week between the Kingdom of Denmark and the US," they add.
The Netherlands – one of the countries targeted by Trump's new tariff measures – says it has "taken note" of the new 10% tariffs.
In a social media post, the country's Foreign Affairs Minister David van Weel says the Netherlands is "in close contact" with other EU member states regarding a response.
Van Weel also references the recent arrival of European troops and vessels in Greenland, saying: "The military efforts for exercises in Greenland are precisely intended to contribute to security in the Arctic region."
Bernd Debusmann Jr
Traveling with President Trump
The White House has repeatedly, and explicitly, said that a range of options are available for the US as it seeks to acquire Greenland.
Tariffs, as we've now seen, are one of those – what else could be on the table?
The Trump administration has also floated the possibility of buying Greenland, or even taking it by force.
The diplomatic consequences of attacking the territory of a Nato ally, however, would be monumental – a fact which experts say makes it exceedingly unlikely.
The US could also "buy" Greenland. But such a transaction would be highly complicated.
Any funds would have to be appropriated by Congress, and acquiring Greenland by treaty would require support from two-thirds of the Senate – which experts say would be difficult to secure.
The European Union would also have to sign off on the deal, and Denmark has said, firmly, that Greenland is not for sale.
A third option could be to ratchet up efforts to win the favour of islanders by short-term financial incentives or the prospect of future economic benefits.
If Greenland were nudged towards independence, it could then enter into a partnership with the US.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer describes Trump's threat to impose tariffs on US allies as "completely wrong".
"Our position on Greenland is very clear – it is part of the Kingdom of Denmark and its future is a matter for the Greenlanders and the Danes," he says in a statement.
"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."
In the last few minutes, we've also been hearing from the Swedish Prime Minister, Ulf Kristersson, who rejects Trump's tariff threats.
"We will not allow ourselves to be blackmailed," he writes on X, adding that "only Denmark and Greenland decide on issues concerning Denmark and Greenland".
"I will always stand up for my country, and for our allied neighbours," he says. "This is an EU issue that concerns many more countries than those now being singled out.
"Sweden is now having intensive discussions with other EU countries, Norway and the UK for a collective response."
French President Emmanuel Macron says France remains committed to "the sovereignty and independence of Nations" as he expresses his support to Greenland and Denmark.
Writing on X, Macron says that "no intimidation nor threat will influence us" as he describes Trump's tariff threats as "unacceptable".
"Europeans will respond to them in a united and coordinated manner if they were to be confirmed," he says.
"We will ensure that European sovereignty is respected."
The Green Party says Donald Trump’s tariff threat is an “outrageous abuse of power”.
Ellie Chowns, the leader of the Parliamentary Green Party and MP for North Herefordshire, says in a statement: “Donald Trump treats the international stage like a schoolyard playground, attempting to bully and brute force other countries into compliance with his imperialist agenda."
She adds it is "a direct attack on the principle of national self-determination, treating the future of Greenland as if it were a piece of spoils to be bought and sold. The UK must not be cowed."
Chowns says the UK Government "must show genuine backbone", adding that: "Greenland cannot be bought – it’s time to prove that Britain can’t be either."
The leader of the Danish Democrats, Inger Stoejberg
Danish politicians are also starting to react to Donald Trump's latest tariffs.
The leader of the Danish Democrats, Inger Stoejberg, tells national Danish broadcaster DR that Denmark must not bow to "Trump's bully methods".
Writing on X, Danish MP Pelle Dragsted says that the tariff threats "must be met with European solidarity and resistance". He adds: "Enough is enough."
As a reminder, Greenland is an autonomous territory of Denmark with self-government and its own parliament. It governs its own domestic affairs – but not its defence policy.
Reacting to news of new Trump's threat of tariffs on some European countries, European Council President Antonio Costa says he is "co-ordinating a joint response".
Speaking at a news conference in the moments after Trump's surprise announcement, Costa says: "the European Union will always be very firm in defending international law… which of course begins within the territory of the member states of the European Union".
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I think it's the biggest deal ever made – Trump
Trump's tariff announcement today comes after an agreement was struck between the EU and US on import taxes back in July.
Here's what was agreed then when Trump called it "the biggest deal ever made":
And, here's a brief reminder of what he's announced today:
Reform leader Nigel Farage says Donald Trump’s tariffs over Greenland would hurt the UK.
He says: "We don’t always agree with the US government and in this case we certainly don’t. These tariffs will hurt us.
"If Greenland is vulnerable to malign influences, then have another look at Diego Garcia."
Adam Goldsmith
Live reporter
US President Donald Trump has vowed to impose extra tariffs for the UK, Denmark and other European countries.
He made the announcement a short while ago on his Truth Social platform – we've taken a closer look at what he said.
Which countries has Trump targeted?
A look at the numbers:
What is Trump's reasoning?
Liberal Democrats leader Ed Davey says that "Starmer's US policy lies in tatters" following Trump's plan to hit the UK with extra tariffs,
Writing on X, he says: "Trump is now punishing the UK and Nato allies just for doing the right thing.
"Time for the PM to stand firm against the bully in the White House, and work with European and Commonwealth allies to make him back down from this reckless plan."
Bernd Debusmann Jr
Travelling with President Trump
Today's announcement is far from the first time that Trump has used tariffs as a foreign policy tool – one that his detractors have often accused him of "weaponising".
For Trump, the purpose of tariffs extends far past the economic benefits he claims that they bring to the United States.
In some ways, they have supplanted traditional diplomacy and foreign policy levers as the preferred US option.
Recently, for example, he announced a 25% tariff on nations trading with Iran as part of a larger bid to pressure the Iranian regime amid ongoing protests.
In the past, he has also credited tariffs with helping him end conflicts abroad. In November, he said he'd threatened India and Pakistan with 350% tariffs, prompting them to come to the negotiating table.
Other examples include slapping additional tariffs on Brazil as a form of political pressure after its judicial system prosecuted former President Jair Bolsonaro, or – also in November – on Canada after Ontario's Premier ran anti-tariff advertisement on TV.
His power to use tariffs has not gone unchallenged domestically, and we are still waiting for a Supreme Court decision on whether his use of them has complied with federal law.
US President Donald Trump insists his country needs to acquire Greenland for national security reasons and has not ruled out using military force.
While a possible purchase has also been suggested, Trump says he plans to take control of the island "the easy way" or "the hard way".
His demands have been rejected by Greenland's leaders and by Nato member Denmark, of which the island is a semi-autonomous territory.
Greenland's location between North America and the Arctic makes it well placed for early warning systems in the event of missile attacks, and for monitoring vessels in the region.
More than once, he has described the threat he perceives from rival powers, saying that "if we don't take Greenland, Russia or China will take Greenland".
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Why is there so much international interest in Greenland?
We've just heard from the UK's Leader of the Opposition Kemi Badenoch, who calls Trump's latest round of tariffs a "terrible idea".
"President Trump is completely wrong to announce tariffs on the UK over Greenland," she writes on social media, adding that customers in both the UK and US will face higher costs.
"These tariffs will be yet another burden for businesses across our country. The sovereignty of Greenland should only be decided by the people of Greenland," she says.
In an interview recorded before President Trump announced tariffs on the UK and other European countries in response to the Greenland row, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives told Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg that he doesn’t "foresee military intervention in Greenland" by America.
Donald Trump ally Mike Johnson told the BBC "diplomatic channels are the way to go", when asked about how President Trump planned to acquire Greenland without military action and said his appointment of a Greenland envoy demonstrated this intention.
Johnson said Donald Trump was "playing chess" in his handling of the issue but that he hadn’t discussed it specifically with the president.
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Greenland: 'Diplomatic channels are the way to go' US speaker tells BBC
Just hours before Trump announced his new tariffs, protesters in Greenland and Denmark took to the streets to rally against his threats of annexation.
We can now bring you some pictures from Nuuk and Copenhagen:
Protestors flooded Copenhagen to show support for Greenland
Greenland is a self-governing territory controlled by Denmark, and residents of Copenhagen have waved its national flag in support
In Greenland's capital Nuuk, demonstrators say the country is 'not for sale'
A placard is prepared ahead of Saturday's protest march in Nuuk
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