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Sir Keir Starmer has expressed relief following US President Donald Trump’s decision to drop his tariff threats against European countries opposing his proposal to annex Greenland. The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of moving beyond rhetoric to focus on cooperation in Arctic security matters. “Now we can start hard yards and finding a way forward on security in the Arctic,” he said, highlighting the strategic significance of the region.
The situation escalated tensions internationally after Trump intensified demands for the United States to take control of Greenland, citing national security concerns. Trump also threatened to impose a 10% import tariff on eight countries, including the United Kingdom, which generated unease among Western allies. However, after a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Davos, Switzerland, the US president stepped back from these trade war threats, announcing that an agreement regarding Arctic security had been reached.
During a visit to Hertfordshire, Sir Keir welcomed the withdrawal of tariff threats, calling it a positive development. He noted that while the Arctic might seem distant, security issues there have direct implications for the safety of the UK and Europe. He praised British diplomacy for combining pragmatism, common sense, and adherence to British values throughout the tense period. “But now, as I say, the hard yards of actually finding a better way for security for our country, for Europe and across the globe,” he added.
Regarding the details of the agreement reached between Trump and Rutte, there remains some uncertainty. Trump has hinted the deal could involve rights to mineral resources in Greenland. However, UK’s Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper clarified in an interview that she was unaware of any such discussions about Greenland’s substantial rare earth mineral reserves. Instead, she described the arrangement as an “Arctic sentry” initiative, intended to facilitate cooperation among NATO countries in response to shared security threats in the Arctic region. Cooper credited the UK’s “determined diplomacy” and coordinated efforts with allies for the successful de-escalation. The episode also included a series of contentious remarks by Trump on social media, particularly regarding the UK’s agreement to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while retaining a UK-US military base lease, with Sir Keir firmly standing against such pressure and reaffirming his commitment to British principles
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