UK Parliament: MP Burgon CRITICIZES Trump’s Policies Over Greenland, Venezuela ‘CAN’T Be Relied’

The UK Parliament saw sharp criticism of Donald Trump as Labour MP Richard Burgon condemned US policies linked to Greenland and Venezuela. Burgon warned that Washington “can’t be relied on,” accusing Trump of using economic pressure and threats to advance foreign policy goals at the expense of allies and international norms.

Describing the approach as “a new form of gangster politics,” Burgon said such actions undermine diplomacy and global stability. He urged the UK government to take a firmer, independent stance, stressing that alliances must be based on trust, cooperation and respect for sovereignty, not coercion or intimidation.

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Transcript

00:00Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker.

00:02Donald Trump's appalling threats to seize Greenland,

00:06along with his disgusting bombing of Venezuela,

00:10are a new form of gangster politics

00:13that are set out in his new national security strategy,

00:17which also speaks of boosting support for the far right across Europe.

00:22We have to deal with that reality.

00:24And Trump's threats of tariffs this weekend

00:26show how little we can rely on the so-called special relationship.

00:31So I want to ask the Foreign Secretary,

00:33instead of blindly following US policy,

00:35as we have all too often done in the past with disastrous consequences,

00:39isn't it now time to stand up to Trump

00:41and forge a new independent foreign policy

00:44based upon international law, peace and cooperation,

00:48important values that are the very antithesis

00:52of what Donald Trump stands for?

00:54Yeah, yeah.

00:56Can I just caution the Honourable Member

01:00against somehow suggesting equivalence

01:03in a whole series of different areas?

01:07And I obviously am disappointed he doesn't,

01:10as part of his discussions,

01:12recognise the scale of the threat from Russia,

01:15which is the most serious threat the UK faces.

01:18Andrew Morrison.

01:19We have to ride the Trump tiger as best we can

01:22until November 2028.

01:25But the future of Greenland is for Greenlanders.

01:29However, when she's talking to her Danish interlocutors,

01:32could she ever so gently point out

01:35that small countries like Denmark

01:37have historically spent very little

01:40on their and on collective defence?

01:43And can she also perhaps equally gently admonish Denmark,

01:48since along with most member states of the European Union,

01:52it has administered something of a punishment beating

01:55to this country since 2016?

01:57Well, I'm going to say to him that I was delighted to see

02:07the Danish Foreign Minister in London today.

02:10He is a friend,

02:12and Denmark is a close friend of the UK.

02:17The Denmark also stood firm

02:20alongside the UK, alongside the US,

02:24and including putting their own armed forces' lives at risk

02:30in Afghanistan, in other conflicts,

02:33in order to support close allies.

02:36I think they have shown immense dedication

02:39to principles of collective security.

02:42They continue to show substantial support

02:46for Ukraine against Russia,

02:48and I would just strongly show Denmark the UK's support.

02:53Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker.

02:56This week's tensions highlight the strategic importance

02:59of the Greenland-Iceland-UK gap,

03:02and the urgent need for Europeans

03:04to fill its gaps in being able to defend that space,

03:10which currently can only be done

03:12by the United States of America.

03:14So, can she update us on the Government's discussions

03:18with our European counterparts

03:20on strengthening our defence industries,

03:23and any discussions on full access to SAFE?

03:27Madam Secretary.

03:30My hon. Friend has immense expertise in this area.

03:33He is right to highlight the Greenland-Iceland-UK gaps

03:37as being crucial to maintaining the security

03:41of the Atlantic,

03:43and as one on which a lot of the Arctic security issues are based.

03:49But it is also exactly why the UK and Norway

03:52are now jointly building new frigates

03:54as part of a major investment programme,

03:57one of the biggest defence contracts we have ever had,

04:01but also not just investing in jobs in the UK,

04:05but crucially in an unrivaled partnership

04:09to strengthen our maritime security.

04:12I will happily accept tariffs to oppose Trump

04:20and his corrupt regime.

04:22Not my words, but a Bath constituent who emailed me today.

04:25Does the Foreign Secretary not recognise the strong feelings

04:29of so many of our constituents

04:31who are ready to stand up to the bully that Donald Trump is,

04:34and want this Government to do the same?

04:36I think across the country there are strong feelings

04:42about the tariff threats that we have seen.

04:46It is why we have been very clear that they are completely wrong.

04:50I would also say that I think the impact of tariffs

04:54is felt on businesses, on consumers, on ordinary families,

05:00in the US and in the UK, and in other European countries.

05:05That is why tariffs are completely counterproductive,

05:08as well as being completely wrong.

05:10Emma Lewall.

05:11Thank you very much.

05:12I welcome the Prime Minister's calm diplomacy this morning.

05:17It is right that only adversaries stand to gain

05:19from the fracturing of NATO.

05:22I know the Government does not believe the US President

05:24is serious about using military force to seize Greenland,

05:27but even just in the last hour, he has refused to rule this out.

05:32And my right hon. Friend will also know

05:34that the President spoke about wanting Greenland

05:37in his previous term in office.

05:39He has long been serious about this.

05:42As the UK is the lead nation in the Joint Expeditionary Force,

05:46can she assure me that alongside NATO-level discussions,

05:50we are also engaging fully with our GEF partners?

05:53Well, I can tell her that we do regularly

05:57engage with the Joint Expeditionary Force partners.

06:01Indeed, there were meetings around the Joint Expeditionary Force last week,

06:06and I believe there are further such meetings later this week as well,

06:12which, of course, the Ministry of Defence

06:14is heavily involved in supporting as well,

06:18exactly because we take these shared security issues so seriously.

06:22We know for a country like the UK,

06:25our security depends on the alliances that we build,

06:28including with close European allies through the GEF.

06:32Alicia Cairns.

06:33Madam Deputy Speaker, Greenland is being offered two options,

06:37to be sold or to be annexed.

06:40This is naked imperialism.

06:43The Government of Greenland has made very clear

06:44that they will work with the US in any way that is necessary

06:47to protect our security and that of Europe's.

06:50But I'm afraid that beyond vague diplomatic assurances

06:53of diplomatic activity and claims of being hard-headed,

06:56as a result of today's statement,

06:58I am not any clearer on what the Government is doing

07:01to keep us safe from these tariffs,

07:03but more importantly, to protect our security

07:06and the sovereignty of Greenland.

07:08Vance Secretary.

07:10Well, what I would say to the Honourable Member,

07:12and I would be actually, to be honest,

07:15I am surprised at that question from her

07:17because she does have experience around foreign affairs

07:21and she knows the way in which the diplomatic discussions take place

07:27and the urgency with which those discussions are taking place right now.

07:32She will understand the importance of those discussions.

07:36She will understand the importance of the collaboration

07:39with our allies and partners

07:41and the way in which those discussions take place.

07:44She will also have seen the results of taking a similar hard-headed

07:48and robust approach in previous issues

07:51and the previous discussions that we have taken

07:54and will continue to take forward.

07:57What I would also just say is that the people of Greenland,

08:02we have seen the protests on the streets in Greenland,

08:05we have seen the strong views expressed as well

08:10by the people of the Kingdom of Denmark more widely.

08:13We will continue to support them and their sovereignty.

08:17Sonia Kamal.

08:19Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker.

08:20The 2009 Greenland Self-Government Act, Chapter 8, Section 21,

08:25states,

08:25Decisions regarding Greenland's independence

08:27shall be taken by the people of Greenland.

08:31Therefore, no external coercion should be applied to their people.

08:36What steps is my right honourable friend taking

08:38with our European allies

08:40to ensure that the Greenland's South Government Act is respected

08:43and that no major power can pressure the Greenlanders

08:46over their constitutional status?

08:50Well, I welcome my honourable friend's point

08:52and this is exactly why my colleague, the Europe Minister,

08:56has been in touch with the Greenland Foreign Minister

08:58and why I had many discussions today

09:03with the Danish Foreign Minister

09:04about our support for the sovereignty of the people of Greenland.

09:09It is for them to decide their future

09:11and for them and the Danes side by side

09:16to decide their future and not for anyone else.

09:19I welcome the Foreign Secretary's approach

09:25saying we should be working with our allies.

09:29I fear that Donald Trump does not agree with her.

09:32However, what is the government doing

09:35to harden our infrastructure?

09:37We are heavily dependent on several American IT systems,

09:42for example, Palantir, which is controlled by Peter Thiel,

09:46who is well into the coterie of Donald Trump's administration.

09:51We have seen with a sanction

09:52that they could switch off Microsoft

09:55providing services to the International Criminal Court.

09:57Will the government look into making Palantir

09:59not a single point of failure in our critical systems,

10:02in the health service, the defence and cabinet office

10:05and now police?

10:07The Prime Secretary.

10:09Well, I can tell him that we do take immensely seriously

10:12all issues around critical national infrastructure.

10:15We do have long-standing areas,

10:18for example, in our security and intelligence

10:22Five Eyes partnerships,

10:24which do involve technology partnerships

10:26which go back very many generations.

10:29In fact, I remember some of my first meetings

10:31with Five Eyes meetings in the US on this

10:37in over 25 years ago,

10:39and that technology and partnerships have strengthened since.

10:42But he is also right to say

10:44that we should look at key areas

10:45where critical national infrastructure

10:47needs to be strengthened as well.

10:49Alex Sobel.

10:50Thank you, Madam Chair.

10:51I want to associate myself with Foreign Secretary's statement

10:55that the future Greenland

10:56is a matter for the Greenlanders

10:58and the Danes and them alone.

11:00We all know that the geosecurity of the High North

11:05is because of Russia's threat to NATO.

11:07I'm really pleased she went to Norway last week

11:09because, in fact, we have two Russian bases

11:12on NATO territory in Svalbard.

11:15What discussions did she have

11:16with her Norwegian counterparts

11:17about the possibility of ending

11:19the Russian presence on NATO territory in Svalbard?

11:22Well, he's right to highlight

11:26the issues in the High North

11:27being about the Russian threats,

11:30and this has long been the case,

11:32but we have seen those threats grow.

11:34There was a time at the ending of the Cold War

11:37when I think everyone was optimistic

11:39that this might fundamentally change,

11:42and sadly, many years on,

11:44that has proven not to be the case.

11:47And it is why this partnership

11:48between the UK and Norway is crucial,

11:51and it's crucial for our security,

11:53but it's actually crucial for the security

11:55of the whole of NATO

11:56and of many of our allies as well.

11:59I can assure him we keep our range of issues

12:01under discussion.

12:02Danny Kruger.

12:03Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker.

12:05The Foreign Secretary is, of course,

12:06absolutely right to insist

12:07that the future of Greenland

12:09is a question only for the people of Greenland.

12:12Does he acknowledge, though,

12:13that this crisis is the consequence

12:15of our weakness,

12:17of decades of failure on the part of Europe

12:19and the UK to invest in defence,

12:23and indeed a historic failure

12:24of statecraft on the part of the United Kingdom

12:27that saw one naval officer attend Greenland

12:30and have the consequence

12:31of 10% tariffs imposed on us?

12:33So she mentions this conversation

12:35that she had in Scandinavia last week.

12:36Did she offer to do more than simply cooperate

12:40with our partners and neighbours,

12:41but to actually lead

12:42in the defence of Greenland

12:44by committing a proper joint expeditionary force

12:46led by the UK with the proper commitments

12:48to ensure the safety of Greenland?

12:51The Secretary.

12:53Can I just say to the Honourable Manda

12:55that the biggest threat

12:58to Arctic security

12:59comes from Russia,

13:02and he would have a lot more credibility

13:05in talking about any

13:07of these Arctic security issues

13:09if he and his new party

13:11would actually look inwards

13:13at themselves

13:13and do the long-needed investigation

13:17into Russian influence

13:18in their party?

13:20Carrie, the party.

13:22Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker.

13:25I welcome the Prime Minister's

13:27strong response and assurances

13:28we've heard from the Foreign Secretary today.

13:31She quite rightly made clear

13:34that Donald Trump's claims

13:35to need to possess Greenland

13:38for security reasons,

13:39a complete and utter nonsense.

13:40The US already has access,

13:42and she talked about

13:42a multilateral approach

13:44to Arctic security.

13:46There is also the critical minerals element,

13:49which I suspect is also a great deal

13:51to do with his interest in the country.

13:53Can she say what we're doing

13:55to have a similar multilateral approach

13:57to critical minerals

13:58as we seek to divest

13:59from Chinese reliance?

14:02And France, actually.

14:04My number of friends,

14:05it is right to raise

14:06there's the broader issue

14:07around critical minerals.

14:09You know that many of the issues

14:10around Greenland

14:12are long-term issues

14:15as opposed to immediate

14:16critical mineral issues,

14:17but there is a wider thing

14:18about ensuring

14:19that we have security

14:21around our critical mineral supply chains

14:23and needing to work

14:25with other countries

14:26to prevent any country

14:27having a chokehold

14:28around the supply

14:30of critical minerals.

14:31That is crucial

14:32in some of our issues

14:34around new green technologies,

14:36but it's also crucial

14:37more widely

14:38on our economic prosperity

14:40and economic security

14:42for the future.

14:43Governor Spencer.

14:44Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker.

14:45All relationships,

14:46especially special relationships,

14:48need a foundation,

14:49must have a foundation

14:50of respect

14:52and mutual consent.

14:53What is the status

14:55within NATO

14:56of economic measures

14:57being used

14:58to force the annexation

15:00of a sovereign territory

15:01within NATO?

15:02Well,

15:05NATO allies

15:06need to respect each other

15:08and that is a core part

15:10of the NATO alliance.

15:11It is what makes

15:13the alliance effective

15:15and to not do so

15:17simply aids our adversaries.

15:19Joanna Baxter.

15:21Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker.

15:22I welcome both

15:24the Foreign Secretary's statement

15:25and the Prime Minister's remarks

15:27earlier this morning.

15:29It may be surprising

15:30that neither Greenland

15:32nor the Arctic

15:33were featured

15:34as a strategic priority

15:35in the United States'

15:37own national security strategy,

15:39which was published

15:40in November,

15:41but transatlantic trade did.

15:45So will the Secretary of State

15:46make clear

15:47to the United States administration

15:48that both its goals

15:50of prosperity

15:51and long-term security

15:52of the Arctic

15:53can only be achieved

15:55through close cooperation

15:56with allies

15:57rather than dangerous rhetoric

15:59and actions

15:59that risk weakening

16:00the collective strength

16:01on which we all rely?

16:03I agree with my honourable friend

16:06because that our economic prosperity

16:10for the UK,

16:12for Western Europe,

16:13also for quite across Europe,

16:14but also for North America,

16:17including the US,

16:18Canada,

16:19as our other NATO allies,

16:20our prosperity is strengthened

16:22by trade rather than tariffs.

16:25Our security is strengthened

16:26by the cooperation through NATO

16:29and by respect

16:31for each other's sovereignty

16:32and collective security.

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UK Parliament: MP Burgon CRITICIZES Trump’s Policies Over Greenland, Venezuela ‘CAN’T Be Relied’

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