European allies have rallied firmly behind Greenland’s sovereignty after renewed pressure from Washington. Denmark’s foreign minister stressed that the US president cannot threaten his way into ownership of the semi-autonomous territory. The UK echoed that stance, with Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper insisting Greenland’s future must be decided by Greenlanders and Danes alone.
Cooper highlighted Denmark’s role as a proud NATO ally that has stood shoulder to shoulder with the UK and US at real human cost. She noted the existing 1951 US-Denmark treaty already ensures a strong American security presence, adding that alliances rest on respect, not pressure.
00:00With permission, Madam Deputy Speaker, I'll make a statement on Greenland and wider Arctic security.
00:07On the evening of Saturday, 17th January, President Trump announced the intention to impose 10% tariffs on goods from Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the UK over the future of Greenland.
00:26This is a serious moment for our transatlantic discussions and partnerships.
00:33So let me outline to the House the UK's response, which rests on three key principles.
00:41First, Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark. Its future is a matter for Greenlanders and the Danes and them alone.
00:52This reflects the fundamental principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity to which this whole House is committed.
01:03Second, the use or the threat of tariffs against allies in this way is completely wrong, it is unwarranted and it is counterproductive.
01:12Third, Arctic security is a shared concern and a shared responsibility for both sides of the Atlantic.
01:22It can only be effectively addressed and maintained through a cooperation between transatlantic allies and, crucially, through NATO.
01:31So instead of divisions that only aid our adversaries, we now need a serious and constructive dialogue about our Arctic security,
01:40which is built on respect for sovereignty and collective security and the rules which underpin our alliance.
01:48As the Prime Minister set out this morning, the North Star for the Government's foreign policy is to stand up for the UK's national interest,
01:54to defend and advance Britain's security, Britain's prosperity and Britain's values.
02:01And we do so through the alliances and partnerships that we build abroad that make us stronger here at home,
02:08including alliances where that transatlantic cooperation between Europe and North America has long been vital.
02:15As the Prime Minister has made clear, our close and deep-rooted partnership with the United States
02:21is a hugely important part of our security and our prosperity.
02:25The depth of our cooperation on intelligence sharing and defence helps keep us safe.
02:31And our trading relationship and the new agreements we have reached in the last 12 months
02:35are driving billions of pounds of investment in the UK, supporting jobs across the country.
02:41But the Prime Minister has also made clear that we will be very direct about our differences,
02:48as he was in speaking to President Trump yesterday.
02:51Because standing up for the UK national interest means the defending the principles
02:56that underpin stable and enduring international cooperation.
03:01That means respect for sovereignty and it means respect for long-standing allies.
03:07Denmark is a close ally of the United Kingdom and the United States.
03:13Indeed, Denmark has long been one of the US's closest allies.
03:17A proud NATO member that has stood shoulder to shoulder with the UK and with the US,
03:23including at real human cost in recent decades.
03:27Rooted in that partnership, the US already has in place a 1951 treaty with Denmark,
03:32which already provides for an extensive US security presence in Greenland.
03:37And alliances endure because they are built on respect and partnership, not pressure.
03:46And tariff threats like this are no way to treat allies.
03:52Madam Deputy Speaker, the tariff threat has come following the pre-coordinated preparations
03:57for the annual Danish programme of activities under the framework Arctic Endurance,
04:02which is focused on addressing Russian security threats in the Arctic.
04:08And last week, at the request of the Danish Government,
04:11one UK military officer currently based in Denmark joined a planning group visit in an observational capacity.
04:18And these sorts of visits are a regular part of military planning ahead of exercises and operations.
04:24Work amongst allies to strengthen Greenland's security that should be recognised for its importance,
04:31not used as a reason to impose economic pressure.
04:36A trade war would hurt workers and businesses on both sides of the Atlantic.
04:43It would be in no one's interests.
04:45Both sides of the Atlantic should be working together on Arctic security, not moving apart.
04:54And that is why the Prime Minister and this Government are working intensively in the UK national interest
04:59to prevent this happening and to reach a resolution.
05:04Yesterday, the Prime Minister spoke directly with President Trump,
05:07with the Danish Prime Minister and other close allies and international leaders.
05:11Today, I welcomed the Danish Foreign Minister, Lars Rasmussen, here to London for valuable discussions earlier today.
05:19And the Europe Minister has been in touch with the Greenland Foreign Minister.
05:24I have also been in direct contact with the US, Canada, France, Germany and other European colleagues.
05:30And on Wednesday, my right honourable friend, the Defence Secretary, will visit Denmark.
05:35We will continue with this urgent diplomacy in pursuit of the principles that I have set out.
05:41And we will also argue for the strengthening of our multilateral cooperation around Arctic security.
05:50Because the Arctic is the gateway for Russia's northern fleet to threaten Britain, Western Europe and North America.
05:59Threats to undersea cables, threats to critical national infrastructure.
06:03We have seen greater presence of Russian ships and submarines making their way to the North Atlantic.
06:08We have seen Russian aircraft testing our air defence.
06:12As shadow fleet vessels pass through our waters, trying to evade our sanctions and continuing to fund the war in Ukraine.
06:19Northern Norway, Finland, sea routes through Greenland, Iceland, UK gaps have long been strategically significant when considering Russian threats.
06:27And we know that the strategic significance of the Arctic is likely to grow as the melting of Arctic ice stands to open new routes through the Arctic Ocean and with newfound geo-economic competition for critical minerals and rare earths.
06:43So Arctic security is crucial not just to the UK, but to the entire NATO alliance.
06:49Of the eight countries north of the Arctic Circle, seven are NATO allies.
06:55So across our alliance, working together, we can and should do more.
07:00So that is why last week I travelled to Finland and Norway to discuss the threats they currently face.
07:06My right honourable friend, the Defence Secretary, was also in Sweden.
07:09And in Helsinki, I met with the Finnish Foreign Minister and was briefed on their border force activities to tackle a Russian ship that had damaged undersea cables between Finland and Estonia.
07:20In northern Norway, I met with the Norwegian Foreign Minister.
07:23We signed a new agreement to strengthen our cooperation to tackle Russia's shadow fleet.
07:27And we travelled together to Camp Viking to see the work of the Royal Marines and their Norwegian partners.
07:34In the bitter cold of this unforgiving landscape, our commando forces are training and exercising, preparing for contingencies.
07:44For more than 50 years, the Royal Marines have trained in the Norwegian Arctic.
07:49But we are increasing that commitment, doubling the number of Marines there from 1,000 to 2,000 in the space of three years.
07:58And I pay tribute to the phenomenal work that they do.
08:01Alongside the landmark Lunar House Defence Agreement, that will see the UK and Norway jointly operate a new fleet of Type 26 anti-submarine warfare frigates
08:12to hunt Russian submarines and protect our critical undersea infrastructure.
08:16And in the autumn, the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force saw thousands of troops, including over 1,700 British personnel,
08:26dozens of ships, vehicles and aircraft deployed from the Baltics to Iceland.
08:31And the UK plans to contribute to a range of exercises in the North Atlantic and High North throughout 2026.
08:39Because this is how we believe we best strengthen our Arctic security for the sake of both Western Europe and North America,
08:49together through alliances and partnerships, not through threats on tariffs or sovereignty,
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