UK PARLIAMENT FULL VIDEO: Heated Exchange Erupts Over Trump’s Tariff 10% on UK & Greenland Takeover

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A heated exchange erupted in the UK Parliament as MPs clashed over Donald Trump’s proposed 10 per cent tariff on British goods and his renewed rhetoric over Greenland. The debate exposed sharp divisions across the Commons, with lawmakers warning the move could damage trade, alliances and regional stability.    Prime Minister Keir Starmer came under fire from Conservative MPs, who accused him of failing to confront Washington and allowing the UK’s global standing to weaken. Claims that the US is “not a reliable partner” intensified the row, as ministers defended diplomacy while opposition figures demanded a tougher stance.    #UKParliament #Trump #Tariffs #Greenland #KeirStarmer #UKPolitics #TradeTensions #USUKRelations #Commons #PoliticalClash #Conservatives #Labour #ForeignPolicy #Geopolitics #BreakingPolitics #NATO #Alliances #GlobalAffairs #ParliamentLive  ~HT.318~ED.102~

Transcript

00:00:00I thank your honourable member for his question and indeed recognise and acknowledge his deep experience in the House

00:00:07and indeed on chairing the ISC.

00:00:11What I can say is that we continue to keep our matters of security and intelligence

00:00:20as matters that are a first priority for this government

00:00:25and indeed in relation to national security both with the National Security Advisor

00:00:31and indeed our partners abroad and Five Eyes that were also part of the question today

00:00:39it's important to recognise that we continue to keep those conversations around security and intelligence

00:00:45around all areas of concern to the United Kingdom and indeed in relation to China.

00:00:51The Speaker of the US Congress, Mike Johnson, was here today in Parliament last night

00:00:59he was asked about the Chinese Embassy application

00:01:03and he said that

00:01:06I'm very concerned about it

00:01:11but if it were me I'd be very cautious about that

00:01:15the Minister's heard the caution in this House, from the US Speaker, from the White House, from many others

00:01:22about the proposed Chinese Embassy which would give much greater ability for China

00:01:27to undertake transnational oppression, espionage and attack our national critical infrastructure.

00:01:33I want to ask the Minister again

00:01:35is she listening to all the voices and is the Government listening to all the voices

00:01:39before it's making this decision

00:01:40because once Pandora's box is open

00:01:42you cannot put it back.

00:01:45Minister.

00:01:48I thank my noble friend for his question

00:01:52and he will know as well from his own discussions

00:01:57that we do continue to routinely engage and discuss with the US

00:02:03a wide range of national security issues

00:02:07and indeed the US has also had its own relatively recent experience

00:02:14of China's building of a new embassy in their capital

00:02:18but I do recognise the importance of making sure that views across the House are heard

00:02:25and indeed we've had a number of debates on this

00:02:28but it is also important to recognise that we have made it clear throughout the process

00:02:34that this is a planning decision

00:02:37that is a matter for MHCLG Ministers to make in an independent quasi-judicial capacity.

00:02:46Dr Andrew Murray, sir.

00:02:48Circumstances have changed dramatically since 2018

00:02:52and the Minister can't simply dismiss this as a planning application

00:02:59just like it was a Conservatory it's a matter of national security

00:03:04so will the Government at least concede that if this goes ahead

00:03:09as a condition of any planning permission

00:03:12all that cabling along Mansell Street at the Wapping Exchange

00:03:15should be relocated as a planning condition

00:03:19and at the applicant's expense?

00:03:21I thank the Honourable Member for his question

00:03:27and I will just mention that our intelligence services

00:03:34have been involved throughout the process

00:03:37and indeed advising on a range of measures

00:03:40that are being implemented to protect national security

00:03:44and it may be useful also to mention

00:03:49and indeed for the Right Honourable Gentleman

00:03:52that we have engaged with the Intelligence and Security Committee

00:03:56as well on this matter

00:03:58and most recently as part of a cross-HMG UKC appearance

00:04:04before the Committee on the 26th of November.

00:04:08James Nash.

00:04:10Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker.

00:04:11Can I ask the Minister whether she personally shares any of my concerns

00:04:14that the proposed so-called mega-embassy risk is becoming

00:04:17not only an excessively large diplomatic site

00:04:20but a focal point for intimidation and surveillance of Hong Kongers

00:04:24and members of Chinese, Uyghur and Tibetan diaspora

00:04:28over 700,000 people in total

00:04:30given we know China's track record of transnational repression

00:04:34such as million-dollar bounties on UK Hong Kongers?

00:04:38If not, why not?

00:04:40And if so, how is this being prioritised in the decision-making process?

00:04:47I thank my noble friend for his question

00:04:51and I will make two comments in response.

00:04:55Firstly, to mention that the UK does have a broad suite of powers

00:05:03important powers available to counter any foreign interference

00:05:08and that it is extremely important

00:05:11that we see our security services and law enforcement agencies

00:05:16are armed with the tools that they need

00:05:18to deter, to detect and to disrupt modern-day security threats

00:05:23and indeed, as the Security Minister announced in March last year

00:05:27training and guidance on state threats activity

00:05:30is now being offered by counter-terrorism policing

00:05:33to all 45 front-line or territorial police forces.

00:05:40Just to finally make one comment

00:05:42that in relation to the planning application

00:05:45there is clearly in any replacing of seven different sites

00:05:54a security advantage if we see that China's replacing

00:06:00as its commitment to replace those seven different sites

00:06:03will make up one diplomatic footprint in London

00:06:07with that new embassy.

00:06:09Thank you, Madam Speaker.

00:06:10Following on from my right-handable friend

00:06:12the member for New Forest Seas,

00:06:14I too would be very surprised as a co-author

00:06:17of the Intelligence Committee's report into China

00:06:20if the National Security Advisor had not been seen

00:06:23by the committee on such an important issue.

00:06:26The Director-General of the Security Service

00:06:29gave a speech some time ago when he spoke about China

00:06:32using a whole-of-system approach.

00:06:35Can I encourage the government to do the same

00:06:37when it comes to our own national security

00:06:39and to deliberately juxtapose planning

00:06:42with national security

00:06:45and ensure that our nation is kept safe?

00:06:48But one easy way for the government to act

00:06:51to ensure that we are safe

00:06:53from the malign influence of Chinese spies

00:06:55operating in this country

00:06:57is to ensure the number of diplomats

00:06:59at the new embassy,

00:07:01which is going to be the largest Chinese mission in Europe,

00:07:05is commensurate with the number of diplomats

00:07:07in China, UK diplomats in China.

00:07:11Minister.

00:07:11I thank the Honourable Member for his question.

00:07:16Indeed, it is right to say

00:07:19that national security is the first duty of government.

00:07:23We will always act to protect it

00:07:25and it is a matter of great concern

00:07:27for the FCDO and also for the Home Office.

00:07:32And it is indeed also right to say

00:07:35that the UK does have control

00:07:37over the number of diplomats in the United Kingdom.

00:07:40as per the Vienna Convention

00:07:43on diplomatic relations.

00:07:46And we follow our legal obligations

00:07:48just on this matter

00:07:50and indeed have robust systems in place

00:07:54to ensure that any diplomatic positions

00:07:57at the Chinese embassy

00:07:59must be approved on a case-by-case basis.

00:08:02Bobby Dean.

00:08:03Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker.

00:08:04I think this chamber has grown tired

00:08:06of the government's insistence

00:08:08of framing this as a mere planning application,

00:08:11a quasi-judicial process

00:08:12that the national government

00:08:13can do nothing about.

00:08:14That is simply not the case.

00:08:16This is a test.

00:08:17It is a test of this government's resolve

00:08:19in standing up to the threat

00:08:20that China poses to the UK.

00:08:23Now, the Prime Minister clearly thinks

00:08:24that handing this gift over

00:08:26to the Chinese in Beijing

00:08:27will strengthen his hand

00:08:28in trade negotiations.

00:08:30I believe that China

00:08:31will just smell weakness.

00:08:32So I challenge the government

00:08:34reject the Meghna embassy,

00:08:36counsel that visit

00:08:37and don't go back there

00:08:39until they get Jimmy Lai

00:08:40back on these shores.

00:08:41Let me thank the honourable member

00:08:50for his question

00:08:53but also to challenge him

00:08:56because what he will know

00:08:58is that it is important

00:09:02and you can have national security

00:09:05and economic security

00:09:07both upheld by the government

00:09:10in terms of its priorities

00:09:12and he will know

00:09:13that national security

00:09:15must always be

00:09:16the first duty of any government.

00:09:19And in relation to

00:09:20our relationship with China,

00:09:23we have talked extensively

00:09:25about our serious,

00:09:27clear-eyed approach

00:09:28to having a relationship

00:09:29with China

00:09:30that is in our long-term interests

00:09:32where we do cooperate,

00:09:34where we do challenge

00:09:35what we must

00:09:36and where we also do compete.

00:09:39And it isn't about

00:09:40just balancing that.

00:09:41It is about,

00:09:43through engagement,

00:09:44being strong on security

00:09:45and strong on the economy.

00:09:48And he will also know

00:09:50that with China being

00:09:55the world's second-largest economy

00:09:57and the UK's third-largest

00:09:59trading partner,

00:10:01that not engaging

00:10:02is no choice at all.

00:10:03Sir Desmond Swain.

00:10:06Madam Deputy Speaker,

00:10:08the urgent question

00:10:10for the honourable member

00:10:12for Rotherham,

00:10:13which Mr Speaker granted,

00:10:15explicitly refers

00:10:17to our Five Eyes partners.

00:10:19The first thing

00:10:20that the Minister said

00:10:21when she got to her feet

00:10:22was that she could not

00:10:24answer any question

00:10:25of the Five Eyes partners

00:10:27because that was

00:10:28her Home Office responsibility.

00:10:30Why did she come?

00:10:31Did she argue with those

00:10:33who sent her?

00:10:34Did she say,

00:10:35baggy, not me,

00:10:36I can't answer that question?

00:10:38The fact that she came,

00:10:40willingly or unwillingly,

00:10:42frankly,

00:10:43is an insult to this House.

00:10:49Let me thank

00:10:52the honourable member

00:10:53for his question

00:10:55and say

00:10:56that what is important

00:10:58is to acknowledge

00:10:59that we work

00:11:01with our Five Eyes partners

00:11:03on a range

00:11:05of security matters,

00:11:06that it is important

00:11:07that we have that trust.

00:11:09It is important

00:11:10we share security concerns

00:11:12and intelligence

00:11:13and it is also important

00:11:15to recognise

00:11:16that some of those matters

00:11:17are primarily

00:11:18a responsibility

00:11:19for the Home Office,

00:11:21but also

00:11:22that whilst we engage

00:11:23with our partners,

00:11:25as I have described,

00:11:26including the US,

00:11:27on matters routinely

00:11:29in relation to security

00:11:31and intelligence,

00:11:33those aren't always

00:11:34things that can be shared

00:11:35in the Chamber,

00:11:36but they are matters

00:11:37that are important

00:11:38to the functioning

00:11:39of government.

00:11:39Chris Law.

00:11:42Madam Deputy Speaker,

00:11:43the UK Government

00:11:44does not seem

00:11:45to recognise

00:11:45the message

00:11:46that was sent

00:11:46to Tibetan,

00:11:48Uyghur

00:11:48and other exiled communities

00:11:49in the UK

00:11:50who face intimidation,

00:11:51surveillance

00:11:52and abduction attempts

00:11:53almost on a daily basis

00:11:54if it disregards

00:11:55their safety

00:11:56and approves

00:11:56the new China

00:11:57mega-empathy.

00:11:58I have heard

00:11:58warm words

00:11:59about upholding

00:12:00the various measures

00:12:01for transnational repression,

00:12:03so I want to ask

00:12:04more specifically,

00:12:05can the Minister

00:12:06outline

00:12:06what assessment

00:12:07the Government

00:12:07is made at a risk

00:12:08that this proposed embassy

00:12:09could be used

00:12:10to facilitate

00:12:11transnational repression,

00:12:12bearing in mind

00:12:13there will be

00:12:13hundreds more diplomats,

00:12:15and secondly,

00:12:15what specific safeguards

00:12:17are being put in place

00:12:18to prevent this?

00:12:19Minister.

00:12:22I thank the Honourable Member

00:12:24for his question,

00:12:25and indeed,

00:12:26we continue to raise

00:12:28all concerns

00:12:29in relation to human rights

00:12:30at the highest level

00:12:31with the Chinese Government,

00:12:34and it is important

00:12:35to also say

00:12:37in reference

00:12:38to diplomats

00:12:41that any new

00:12:42diplomatic position

00:12:43at the Chinese Embassy

00:12:44must be approved

00:12:45on a case-by-case basis

00:12:47by the FCDO's

00:12:49Protocol Department,

00:12:50and the UK

00:12:51does have control

00:12:52over the number

00:12:53of diplomats

00:12:54in the UK

00:12:55as per the Vienna Convention

00:12:57on Diplomatic Relations,

00:12:58and we will always

00:12:59take security

00:13:00of all those

00:13:01in our country

00:13:02extremely seriously.

00:13:04Sir Benedekian.

00:13:07Oh!

00:13:08Oh, he left the chamber.

00:13:10Harriet Cross.

00:13:10Thank you,

00:13:11Madam Deputy Speaker.

00:13:12The Minister has said

00:13:14that the intelligence services

00:13:16are engaged,

00:13:17but she has not been able

00:13:18to give any information

00:13:18on whether or not

00:13:19they are happy

00:13:20or whether or not

00:13:20they are able to mitigate

00:13:21any of the risks.

00:13:22Why can she not give us

00:13:23this information?

00:13:25And on the timeline,

00:13:26as the Shadow Minister asked,

00:13:28the unredacted plans

00:13:29were seen a week ago,

00:13:30yet these applications,

00:13:32the first application

00:13:33was rejected in 2022,

00:13:35the revised plans went in,

00:13:36or the revised application

00:13:37went in 2024,

00:13:39it was called in then,

00:13:40and it is now 2026,

00:13:42but with a week

00:13:42they have now been able

00:13:43to decide based on plans

00:13:44they have seen.

00:13:45Why that quick turnaround?

00:13:47Minister?

00:13:48Minister?

00:13:48Let me just reiterate

00:13:54that in relation

00:13:56to the decision

00:13:58on the embassy,

00:13:59that must be taken

00:14:01in the proper way.

00:14:03It is a matter

00:14:04for MHCLG ministers

00:14:06and it is an independent process

00:14:09and it is a matter

00:14:11that we have been

00:14:12very clear on

00:14:13throughout the process.

00:14:15Madam Deputy Speaker,

00:14:15thank you,

00:14:17Madam Deputy Speaker.

00:14:18The Minister has stated

00:14:19several times this afternoon

00:14:21that national security

00:14:22is a priority

00:14:23for this government.

00:14:25So why then

00:14:26is this government

00:14:27letting in a hostile state

00:14:29who wants to sabotage us,

00:14:31who wants to spy on us,

00:14:32letting them into

00:14:33the very heart

00:14:34of our government?

00:14:35Minister?

00:14:39I'm not sure

00:14:40whether the Honourable Lady

00:14:42was referring to Russia

00:14:43or the other country,

00:14:46but in relation

00:14:48to China,

00:14:53perhaps I will just say again

00:14:54what I referenced

00:14:57in some earlier remarks,

00:14:59that China is also

00:15:03the world's second largest economy

00:15:05and the UK's third largest

00:15:07trading partner.

00:15:09not engaging

00:15:10with China

00:15:11is no choice

00:15:12at all

00:15:13and we can

00:15:14both

00:15:15through engagement

00:15:16be strong

00:15:17on security

00:15:18and strong

00:15:19on the economy.

00:15:21Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker.

00:15:22Can the Minister

00:15:23not hear herself

00:15:24and how absurd it is

00:15:26that this government

00:15:27insists that they

00:15:28should treat

00:15:29this decision

00:15:30as to whether

00:15:30to allow this embassy

00:15:31in London

00:15:32to treat it

00:15:33as this quasi-judicial

00:15:36independent

00:15:37planning question.

00:15:38It's not a planning question,

00:15:39it's a question

00:15:39of national security

00:15:40and if the Prime Minister

00:15:41had any backbone

00:15:42he'd own it,

00:15:43decide it

00:15:44one way or the other

00:15:45and talk to the House

00:15:45about it.

00:15:46I don't know

00:15:47how up to speed

00:15:47the Minister is

00:15:48on her Greek mythology

00:15:50but before the Trojan horse

00:15:52was pulled in

00:15:53after ten years

00:15:54of besieging it

00:15:55there was one priest

00:15:56Laokoum

00:15:57and he said

00:15:59that you should not

00:16:00pull this into Troy

00:16:01because it will be

00:16:02the end of it

00:16:03and that is what

00:16:05this role

00:16:05this House

00:16:06is playing today.

00:16:07Does the Minister

00:16:09think that the decision

00:16:10as to whether

00:16:11to pull the Trojan horse

00:16:12into Troy

00:16:13should have been treated

00:16:14as a veterinary issue?

00:16:17Minister.

00:16:22I thank your member

00:16:25for his lesson

00:16:26in Greek mythology

00:16:27most of which

00:16:28I am familiar with

00:16:29but perhaps

00:16:30I will just say

00:16:31this to him

00:16:32that it is important

00:16:34to have a serious debate

00:16:35in relation to

00:16:37our relationship

00:16:38with China

00:16:39and it is also

00:16:40important to

00:16:41continue to have

00:16:42a consistent

00:16:43and pragmatic

00:16:44approach

00:16:44to our engagement.

00:16:46I have already

00:16:47referenced

00:16:48how China

00:16:49is also our

00:16:50third largest

00:16:51trading partner

00:16:52but it is also

00:16:54the case

00:16:55that all G7

00:16:56nations

00:16:56engage with China

00:16:58economically

00:16:59economically

00:16:59and diplomatically

00:17:00and it is important

00:17:02that we continue

00:17:03to do so.

00:17:03foreign interference

00:17:07in British politics

00:17:07is of enormous

00:17:08concern to most

00:17:09of these benches

00:17:10following the conviction

00:17:11of reformed politician

00:17:12Nathan Gill

00:17:13who betrayed our country

00:17:14for a genocidal

00:17:15Russian dictator.

00:17:17The government

00:17:18announced the Rycroff

00:17:19Review to investigate

00:17:20foreign interference

00:17:21in response

00:17:21including by China

00:17:22so will the government

00:17:23delay the decision

00:17:24on the super embassy

00:17:25until the Rycroff

00:17:26Review has reported?

00:17:28Minister.

00:17:31The honourable member

00:17:32won't be surprised

00:17:33to hear me say

00:17:34that the decision

00:17:36on the embassy

00:17:36is an independent process

00:17:38but I will just emphasise

00:17:40to him

00:17:41that the UK

00:17:42has a broad range

00:17:43of powers

00:17:44to counter

00:17:45foreign interference

00:17:47including acts

00:17:48which amount

00:17:48to transnational

00:17:49repression

00:17:50and it is important

00:17:51that we take that

00:17:52extremely seriously

00:17:53in terms of

00:17:54with the government

00:17:55but also across

00:17:56the House

00:17:57and it is also important

00:17:58that we see

00:18:00the announcement

00:18:02that the Security Minister

00:18:04made last year

00:18:05in relation to training

00:18:06and guidance

00:18:06on state threats

00:18:07being offered

00:18:10by counterterrorism policing

00:18:12to all 45

00:18:14territorial police

00:18:14authorities

00:18:15across the UK

00:18:16that that training

00:18:18is taken up

00:18:19and that we are seeing

00:18:20the enhancement

00:18:21of the ability

00:18:21of frontline police officers

00:18:23and staff

00:18:24in the identification

00:18:25of state directed crime

00:18:26and the actions

00:18:27that should be taken

00:18:28and must be taken

00:18:29to escalate

00:18:30and mitigate this activity

00:18:31final question

00:18:32Jim Shannon

00:18:33thank you Madam Deputy Speaker

00:18:35can I thank the Minister

00:18:35very much for her answers

00:18:37during last week's UQ

00:18:39on the topic

00:18:39of the Chinese Embassy

00:18:40I highlighted

00:18:41that whilst the consulate

00:18:42is entitled

00:18:43to facilities

00:18:44to enable their citizens

00:18:45to have consular health

00:18:46they are not entitled

00:18:48to have this pose

00:18:49any type of threat

00:18:50to national security

00:18:51the information provided

00:18:53this morning

00:18:54again demonstrates

00:18:55the potential

00:18:55that there is for risk

00:18:57for our national security

00:18:58so will the Minister

00:18:59not take the steps

00:19:00well within government's

00:19:02power and grasp

00:19:03to act in the national interest

00:19:05and make clear

00:19:06that the consulate

00:19:06as proposed

00:19:07is not necessary

00:19:08to carry out consulate functions

00:19:10and will therefore

00:19:11not be acceptable

00:19:12thank you

00:19:12Minister

00:19:13I thank the honourable member

00:19:17for his question

00:19:18and it is important

00:19:20to emphasise again

00:19:22that national security

00:19:23is the first duty

00:19:24of government

00:19:25and we will always

00:19:27act to protect it

00:19:28that is the end

00:19:29of the question

00:19:29on the proposed

00:19:30Chinese Embassy

00:19:31point of order

00:19:32Alicia Kearns

00:19:33thank you Madam Deputy Speaker

00:19:34when I asked an urgent question

00:19:35about this important issue

00:19:36last week

00:19:37it was shunted to MHCOG

00:19:38today when the honourable member

00:19:40for Rotherham asked the question

00:19:41it was shunted

00:19:41to the foreign office

00:19:42the Minister opened

00:19:44her answers

00:19:44by saying she could not

00:19:45answer on the fundamental

00:19:46question being asked

00:19:48in the chamber

00:19:48when she was then

00:19:49put a direct question

00:19:50by me

00:19:51has she demarched

00:19:52the Chinese Ambassador

00:19:53because it is within

00:19:53her briefing

00:19:54no answer was given

00:19:56so the Ministers

00:19:57will not answer

00:19:57on other people's briefs

00:19:58despite collective

00:19:59responsibility

00:19:59if they do not answer

00:20:00on their own briefs

00:20:01how are we to get

00:20:02answers in this place

00:20:03I thank the honourable

00:20:05lady for her notice

00:20:07of that point of order

00:20:08as she may know

00:20:10the Chair is not

00:20:10responsible for the

00:20:11content of Minister's

00:20:12answers

00:20:12if only we were

00:20:14but she has

00:20:15most definitely

00:20:16put her point

00:20:17on the record

00:20:18unless the Minister

00:20:19wishes to respond

00:20:19right now

00:20:20the Minister

00:20:21has declined

00:20:21to respond right now

00:20:22no doubt

00:20:23but the Treasury

00:20:24frontbench

00:20:25will feed that

00:20:25back in

00:20:26to the Minister

00:20:28responsible

00:20:29thank you so much

00:20:29we now

00:20:30I will give the frontbench

00:20:31a moment or two

00:20:32to shuffle over

00:20:32come to the first

00:20:42statement from

00:20:42the Foreign Secretary

00:20:43on Arctic Security

00:20:45Foreign Secretary

00:20:45thank you

00:20:48Madam Deputy Speaker

00:20:50can I begin by

00:20:51expressing my deep

00:20:52condolences to all

00:20:54those affected by the

00:20:55terrible train crash

00:20:56near Cordoba last night

00:20:58thank you to the

00:21:00Spanish Emergency

00:21:01Services who

00:21:02responded overnight

00:21:03and throughout today

00:21:04and I am sure the

00:21:05House will join me

00:21:06in thinking of the

00:21:08people of Spain

00:21:09at this distressing

00:21:10time

00:21:11with permission

00:21:13Madam Deputy

00:21:14Speaker I will make

00:21:14a statement on

00:21:15Greenland and

00:21:16wider Arctic

00:21:17security

00:21:18on the evening of

00:21:20Saturday 17th

00:21:21January

00:21:22President Trump

00:21:23announced the

00:21:24intention to impose

00:21:2510% tariffs

00:21:26on goods from

00:21:28Denmark

00:21:28Finland

00:21:29France

00:21:30Germany

00:21:31the Netherlands

00:21:32Norway

00:21:33Sweden

00:21:34and the UK

00:21:36over the future

00:21:38of Greenland

00:21:39this is a serious

00:21:41moment for our

00:21:42transatlantic

00:21:43discussions and

00:21:44partnerships

00:21:44so let me outline

00:21:47to the House

00:21:48the UK's response

00:21:49which rests on

00:21:51three key principles

00:21:52first

00:21:54Greenland is part

00:21:56of the Kingdom

00:21:57of Denmark

00:21:58its future

00:22:00is a matter

00:22:00for Greenlanders

00:22:01and the Danes

00:22:03and them

00:22:03alone

00:22:04this reflects

00:22:07the fundamental

00:22:08principles of

00:22:09sovereignty

00:22:09and territorial

00:22:10integrity

00:22:11to which this

00:22:12whole House

00:22:13is committed

00:22:14second

00:22:16the use

00:22:17or the threat

00:22:18of tariffs

00:22:18against allies

00:22:19in this way

00:22:20is completely wrong

00:22:21it is unwarranted

00:22:22and it is

00:22:23counterproductive

00:22:25third

00:22:26Arctic security

00:22:28is a shared

00:22:29concern

00:22:30and a shared

00:22:31responsibility

00:22:31for both sides

00:22:33of the Atlantic

00:22:34it can only be

00:22:35effectively addressed

00:22:36and maintained

00:22:37through a

00:22:38cooperation

00:22:39between

00:22:40transatlantic allies

00:22:41and crucially

00:22:43through NATO

00:22:44so instead of

00:22:45divisions that only

00:22:46aid our adversaries

00:22:47we now need a

00:22:48serious and

00:22:49constructive dialogue

00:22:50about our

00:22:51Arctic security

00:22:52which is built

00:22:53on respect for

00:22:54sovereignty and

00:22:55collective security

00:22:57and the rules

00:22:58which underpin

00:22:59our alliance

00:23:00as the Prime

00:23:01Minister set out

00:23:02this morning

00:23:02the North Star

00:23:03for the Government's

00:23:04foreign policy

00:23:04is to stand up

00:23:05for the UK's

00:23:06national interest

00:23:07to defend

00:23:08and advance

00:23:09Britain's security

00:23:10Britain's prosperity

00:23:11and Britain's values

00:23:13and we do so

00:23:14through the

00:23:15alliances and

00:23:15partnerships

00:23:16that we build

00:23:16abroad

00:23:17that make us

00:23:18stronger here at

00:23:19home

00:23:19including

00:23:21alliances

00:23:22where that

00:23:23transatlantic

00:23:23cooperation

00:23:24between Europe

00:23:25and North America

00:23:26has long

00:23:27been vital

00:23:28as the Prime

00:23:29Minister has made

00:23:30clear our

00:23:30close and deep

00:23:31rooted partnership

00:23:32with the United

00:23:32States is a

00:23:34hugely important

00:23:34part of our

00:23:35security and

00:23:36our prosperity

00:23:37the depth of

00:23:39our cooperation

00:23:39on intelligence

00:23:40sharing and

00:23:41defence helps

00:23:42keep us safe

00:23:43and our

00:23:44trading relationship

00:23:45and the new

00:23:45agreements we have

00:23:46reached in the

00:23:47last 12 months

00:23:48are driving

00:23:48billions of

00:23:49pounds of

00:23:50investment in the

00:23:51UK supporting

00:23:52jobs across

00:23:53the country

00:23:54but the Prime

00:23:55Minister has also

00:23:56made clear

00:23:56that we will be

00:23:57very direct

00:23:58about our

00:23:59differences

00:23:59as he was in

00:24:01speaking to

00:24:01President Trump

00:24:02yesterday

00:24:03because standing

00:24:04up for the UK

00:24:05national interest

00:24:06means the

00:24:07defending the

00:24:08principles that

00:24:08underpin stable

00:24:10and enduring

00:24:11international

00:24:12cooperation

00:24:12that means

00:24:14respect for

00:24:15sovereignty

00:24:15and it means

00:24:17respect for

00:24:18long-standing

00:24:19allies

00:24:19Denmark is a

00:24:21close ally of

00:24:22the United

00:24:23Kingdom and

00:24:24the United

00:24:24States

00:24:25indeed Denmark

00:24:27has long been

00:24:27one of the

00:24:28US's closest

00:24:29allies

00:24:29a proud NATO

00:24:31member that

00:24:32has stood

00:24:32shoulder to

00:24:33shoulder with

00:24:33the UK and

00:24:34with the US

00:24:35including at

00:24:36real human cost

00:24:37in recent

00:24:37decades

00:24:38rooted in

00:24:40that partnership

00:24:40the US

00:24:41already has

00:24:42in place

00:24:42a 1951

00:24:43treaty with

00:24:44Denmark which

00:24:45already provides

00:24:46for an

00:24:46extensive US

00:24:47security presence

00:24:48in Greenland

00:24:49and alliances

00:24:51endure because

00:24:53they are built

00:24:54on respect

00:24:54and partnership

00:24:56not pressure

00:24:57and tariff

00:24:59threats like

00:25:00this are no

00:25:01way to treat

00:25:02allies

00:25:03Madam Deputy

00:25:06Speaker the

00:25:06tariff threat

00:25:07has come

00:25:07following the

00:25:08pre-coordinated

00:25:09preparations for

00:25:10the annual

00:25:10Danish programme

00:25:11of activities

00:25:12under the

00:25:13framework Arctic

00:25:14Endurance

00:25:14which is

00:25:15focused on

00:25:16addressing Russian

00:25:17security threats

00:25:18in the Arctic

00:25:19and last week

00:25:21at the request

00:25:22of the Danish

00:25:23government

00:25:23one UK military

00:25:24officer currently

00:25:25based in Denmark

00:25:26joined a

00:25:27planning group

00:25:27visit in an

00:25:28observational

00:25:29capacity

00:25:30and these

00:25:31sorts of visits

00:25:32are a regular

00:25:33part of military

00:25:34planning ahead

00:25:34of exercises

00:25:35and operations

00:25:36work amongst

00:25:38allies to

00:25:39strengthen

00:25:40Greenland's

00:25:40security that

00:25:42should be

00:25:42recognised for

00:25:43its importance

00:25:44not used as

00:25:45a reason to

00:25:46impose economic

00:25:47pressure

00:25:48a trade war

00:25:50would hurt

00:25:51workers and

00:25:52businesses on

00:25:53both sides

00:25:54of the Atlantic

00:25:54it would be

00:25:56in no one's

00:25:57interests

00:25:57both sides

00:25:59of the Atlantic

00:26:00should be working

00:26:01together on

00:26:02Arctic security

00:26:03not moving apart

00:26:05and that is why

00:26:07the Prime Minister

00:26:07and this Government

00:26:08are working

00:26:08intensively in the

00:26:10UK national interest

00:26:12to prevent this

00:26:13happening and to

00:26:14reach a resolution

00:26:15yesterday the Prime

00:26:17Minister spoke

00:26:18directly with

00:26:19President Trump

00:26:19with the Danish

00:26:20Prime Minister

00:26:21and other close

00:26:22allies and

00:26:22international leaders

00:26:23today I welcomed

00:26:25the Danish

00:26:26Foreign Minister

00:26:27Lars Rasmussen

00:26:27here to London

00:26:29for valuable

00:26:30discussions earlier

00:26:31today and the

00:26:32Europe Minister

00:26:33has been in touch

00:26:34with the Greenland

00:26:35Foreign Minister

00:26:35I have also been

00:26:37in direct contact

00:26:38with the US

00:26:39Canada

00:26:39France

00:26:40Germany

00:26:40and other

00:26:41European colleagues

00:26:42and on Wednesday

00:26:43my right honourable

00:26:44friend the Defence

00:26:45Secretary

00:26:45will visit Denmark

00:26:47we will continue

00:26:48with this urgent

00:26:49diplomacy

00:26:50in pursuit

00:26:51of the principles

00:26:52that I have set

00:26:53out

00:26:53and we will

00:26:55also argue

00:26:56for the

00:26:57strengthening

00:26:57of our

00:26:58multilateral

00:26:58cooperation

00:26:59around Arctic

00:27:01security

00:27:02because the

00:27:03Arctic is the

00:27:04gateway

00:27:04for Russia's

00:27:06northern fleet

00:27:06to threaten

00:27:07Britain

00:27:08Western Europe

00:27:09and North America

00:27:10threats to

00:27:12undersea cables

00:27:13threats to

00:27:14critical national

00:27:14infrastructure

00:27:15we have seen

00:27:16greater presence

00:27:17of Russian ships

00:27:17and submarines

00:27:18making their way

00:27:19to the North

00:27:20Atlantic

00:27:20we have seen

00:27:21Russian aircraft

00:27:22testing our

00:27:23air defence

00:27:23as shadow

00:27:25fleet vessels

00:27:25pass through

00:27:26our waters

00:27:27trying to

00:27:27evade our

00:27:28sanctions

00:27:28and continuing

00:27:29to fund

00:27:30the war

00:27:30in Ukraine

00:27:31northern Norway

00:27:32Finland

00:27:33sea routes

00:27:34through Greenland

00:27:34Iceland

00:27:35UK gaps

00:27:36have long

00:27:36been strategically

00:27:37significant

00:27:38when considering

00:27:39Russian threats

00:27:40and we know

00:27:41that the strategic

00:27:42significance

00:27:43of the Arctic

00:27:44is likely to grow

00:27:45as the melting

00:27:46of Arctic ice

00:27:47stands to open

00:27:48new routes

00:27:49through the Arctic

00:27:49Ocean

00:27:50and with new

00:27:51found

00:27:51geoeconomic

00:27:52competition

00:27:53for critical

00:27:53minerals

00:27:54and rare

00:27:54earths

00:27:55so Arctic

00:27:56security

00:27:57is crucial

00:27:58not just

00:27:58to the UK

00:27:59but to the

00:28:00entire NATO

00:28:01alliance

00:28:01of the eight

00:28:02countries north

00:28:03of the Arctic

00:28:04circle

00:28:04seven are

00:28:06NATO allies

00:28:06so across

00:28:08our alliance

00:28:09working together

00:28:09we can and

00:28:10should do more

00:28:11so that is why

00:28:13last week I

00:28:13travelled to

00:28:14Finland and

00:28:15Norway to

00:28:15discuss the

00:28:16threats they

00:28:17currently face

00:28:18my right

00:28:19honourable friend

00:28:19the Defence

00:28:19Secretary was

00:28:20also in Sweden

00:28:21and in Helsinki

00:28:23I met with the

00:28:24Finnish Foreign

00:28:24Minister

00:28:25and was briefed

00:28:26on their border

00:28:26force activities

00:28:27to tackle a

00:28:28Russian ship

00:28:29that had damaged

00:28:30undersea cables

00:28:30between Finland

00:28:31and Estonia

00:28:32in northern Norway

00:28:33I met with the

00:28:34Norwegian Foreign

00:28:35Minister

00:28:35we signed a new

00:28:36agreement to

00:28:37strengthen our

00:28:38cooperation to

00:28:38tackle Russia's

00:28:39shadow fleet

00:28:40and we travelled

00:28:41together to

00:28:42Camp Viking

00:28:42to see the work

00:28:44of the Royal

00:28:44Marines and

00:28:45their Norwegian

00:28:46partners

00:28:46in the bitter

00:28:48cold of this

00:28:49unforgiving

00:28:50landscape

00:28:50our commando

00:28:52forces are

00:28:53training and

00:28:53exercising

00:28:54preparing for

00:28:55contingencies

00:28:56for more than

00:28:5750 years

00:28:58the Royal

00:28:59Marines have

00:28:59trained in the

00:29:01Norwegian Arctic

00:29:01but we are

00:29:02increasing that

00:29:03commitment

00:29:04doubling the

00:29:05number of

00:29:05Marines there

00:29:06from a

00:29:06thousand to

00:29:07two thousand

00:29:08in the space

00:29:09of three years

00:29:10and I pay

00:29:10tribute to the

00:29:11phenomenal work

00:29:12that they do

00:29:13alongside the

00:29:15landmark

00:29:15Lunar House

00:29:16Defence Agreement

00:29:17that will see

00:29:18the UK and

00:29:18Norway jointly

00:29:20operate a new

00:29:21fleet of

00:29:22Type 26

00:29:23anti-submarine

00:29:24warfare frigates

00:29:24to hunt Russian

00:29:26submarines and

00:29:26protect our

00:29:27critical undersea

00:29:28infrastructure

00:29:29and in the

00:29:30autumn the UK

00:29:31led Joint

00:29:32Expeditionary

00:29:33Force saw

00:29:33thousands of

00:29:34troops including

00:29:35over 1,700

00:29:37British personnel

00:29:38dozens of

00:29:39ships vehicles

00:29:39and aircraft

00:29:40deployed from

00:29:41the Baltics

00:29:42to Iceland

00:29:43and the UK

00:29:44plans to

00:29:45contribute to

00:29:46a range of

00:29:46exercises in

00:29:48the North

00:29:48Atlantic and

00:29:49High North

00:29:50throughout

00:29:502026

00:29:52because this

00:29:53is how we

00:29:54believe we

00:29:54best strengthen

00:29:55our Arctic

00:29:56security for

00:29:57the sake of

00:29:58both Western

00:29:59Europe and

00:30:00North America

00:30:01together through

00:30:02alliances and

00:30:04partnerships not

00:30:05through threats

00:30:06on tariffs or

00:30:07sovereignty that

00:30:08simply undermine

00:30:09our collective

00:30:10security.

00:30:11the future of

00:30:19Greenland must be

00:30:20determined by the

00:30:21Greenlanders and

00:30:22the Danes and

00:30:24whether it be on

00:30:25Greenland on

00:30:25tariffs or on

00:30:26wider Arctic

00:30:27security we are

00:30:28clear in our

00:30:29views firm in our

00:30:30principles and

00:30:31steadfast in our

00:30:32commitment to

00:30:33safeguarding UK

00:30:34interests.

00:30:35The UK will

00:30:36continue to pursue

00:30:37constructive ways

00:30:38forward collaborating

00:30:40intensively with our

00:30:41partners and allies and

00:30:43pursuing our security

00:30:45our prosperity and our

00:30:47values every step of the

00:30:49way.

00:30:49I commend this statement to

00:30:51the House.

00:30:53I call the Shadow

00:30:54Fire Secretary Priti Patel.

00:30:55Thank you Madam

00:30:56Deputy Speaker.

00:30:57Let me begin my remarks by

00:30:59expressing our condolences to

00:31:01the people of Spain following

00:31:02the devastating train crash

00:31:03yesterday.

00:31:05The Conservative Party is

00:31:06clear that the US

00:31:07administration's decision to

00:31:08announce tariffs on the UK

00:31:10over Greenland is

00:31:11completely wrong.

00:31:12Madam Deputy

00:31:13Speaker, people in both

00:31:14the United Kingdom and the

00:31:15United States will face

00:31:17higher costs because of this

00:31:19proposal of tariffs.

00:31:21There will be yet another

00:31:23burden for businesses

00:31:24across our country and

00:31:26these tariffs also go

00:31:27against the United States

00:31:29recent national security

00:31:31strategy which says and I

00:31:33quote that it is natural

00:31:35and just that all nations

00:31:36put their interests first

00:31:37and guard their

00:31:38sovereignty.

00:31:39It goes on to say that we

00:31:40stand for sovereign rights

00:31:42of nations.

00:31:43So Madam Deputy Speaker,

00:31:44we respect the sovereignty

00:31:45and territorial integrity of

00:31:47Greenland and Denmark.

00:31:48The future of Greenland must be

00:31:50for its people and Denmark to

00:31:52decide.

00:31:52It is theirs to decide alone.

00:31:56Denmark is a valued NATO

00:31:58ally and a leading contributor

00:31:59to Ukraine.

00:32:01Indeed, one of the highest per

00:32:02capita donors.

00:32:04We've also worked with Denmark on

00:32:05Arctic security and it is an

00:32:07imperative that we and our

00:32:08European NATO allies now show a

00:32:11determination to go much

00:32:13further and back up our words

00:32:15with actions.

00:32:16The security challenges in the

00:32:17Arctic must be tackled head on,

00:32:20particularly with the threat of

00:32:21Russia.

00:32:23Greenland is of geopolitical

00:32:24significance for every NATO

00:32:25member state, including the

00:32:27United Kingdom.

00:32:28And the best way to tackle

00:32:29threats is by working together in

00:32:31unison as NATO allies.

00:32:33Because America's national security

00:32:35is indivisible from NATO's.

00:32:37They are one and the same.

00:32:39That is, collective security is the

00:32:41basis of our national defence

00:32:43architecture.

00:32:45Collective action in the immediate

00:32:46term is how we should work

00:32:48together to address these

00:32:49challenges.

00:32:50So will the Foreign Secretary say

00:32:52what resources the government

00:32:54will put in place to prioritise or

00:32:56repurpose its inventory to

00:32:58contribute to NATO's high north

00:33:00missions?

00:33:01What is the government doing to

00:33:03look at how, working with the

00:33:04U.S., we can build on existing

00:33:06joint defence agreements to broker

00:33:08a greater and consensual military

00:33:10presence on Greenland from both

00:33:12sides of the Atlantic?

00:33:14What is the government's plan to

00:33:15help lead international efforts to

00:33:17secure the safety of Arctic

00:33:19shipping routes as they become

00:33:21more open?

00:33:22And stave off exploitation of

00:33:24Greenland's critical minerals by

00:33:27malign actors and also protect the

00:33:30region's fisheries and boost digital

00:33:32connectivity and security, particularly

00:33:35at sea?

00:33:36Has the Foreign Secretary discussed

00:33:37this issue with Secretary Rubio?

00:33:40And if not, what will she propose to

00:33:42him when she does speak to him,

00:33:44including on the security issue in

00:33:46the high north?

00:33:47UK leadership does matter at this

00:33:49challenging moment for NATO, as we

00:33:51should advance a push from all NATO

00:33:53allies to thwart Putin's ambitions in

00:33:56the high north.

00:33:57It is incumbent on the United Kingdom to

00:33:59help to lead that charge, and our

00:34:01ability to convene outside the EU is a

00:34:04strength which we should play.

00:34:06Conservatives have also called on the

00:34:07Prime Minister to push for an urgent

00:34:10meeting of NATO, including and

00:34:12especially the United States.

00:34:13So will the government pursue this so

00:34:16that position can be reconciled behind

00:34:18closed doors so that we can present a

00:34:20united front to our adversaries?

00:34:23And on the issue of tariffs, Madam Deputy

00:34:25Speaker, it is important for our economy

00:34:28and for businesses that the government

00:34:30secures a reversal on this position.

00:34:32This is not a moment for megaphone

00:34:34diplomacy, but can she share the

00:34:36government's strategy for bringing the

00:34:38US round to revoking them before the

00:34:41kick-in date?

00:34:42And can she confirm the UK's position on

00:34:44countermeasures?

00:34:45Under the tariff deal agreed in the

00:34:47spring, the UK secured a 10% reduced

00:34:51tariff for 100,000 vehicles.

00:34:54So can she update the House on whether she

00:34:56expects this 10% tariff, Greenland tariff,

00:34:58to be added to the existing 10% tariff,

00:35:02effectively doubling the tax on British

00:35:04car exports to 20% from the 1st of

00:35:07February?

00:35:09Pharmaceuticals were also a cornerstone of

00:35:11the agreement on tariff-free exemptions.

00:35:13So does the Foreign Secretary expect

00:35:15life sciences to be protected from this

00:35:17new baseline tariff?

00:35:18Or will the 100% tariff threat mentioned

00:35:21in late 2025 now be accelerated?

00:35:25And what specific support will her

00:35:27colleagues in DBT provide small and

00:35:30medium-sized business exporters who

00:35:32could face an overnight 10% increase in

00:35:35the cost for their largest export market?

00:35:38What assessment has been made in

00:35:39government about the potentially

00:35:40economic impact of tariffs?

00:35:42What can be done to mitigate them?

00:35:45Madam Deputy Speaker, this is now time for

00:35:47cool but determined heads, because the

00:35:50stakes are significant and enormous for

00:35:52our country.

00:35:53It isn't just a big geopolitical moment.

00:35:56It's a moment of real concern for

00:35:59businesses in our country and exporters.

00:36:01And we're counting on British diplomacy to

00:36:03reverse the tariff situation, to bring

00:36:06swift end to this debacle over Greenland.

00:36:09The US is our closest ally.

00:36:11The way our security agencies operate

00:36:13together is unparalleled in modern history.

00:36:15And our bilateral trading relationship

00:36:17dwarfs every other relationship.

00:36:19This is a moment where we need to summon and

00:36:22leverage the strength and depth of that

00:36:24special relationship.

00:36:26Foreign Secretary.

00:36:28And I thank the Shadow Foreign Secretary for

00:36:31her response and also welcome her support

00:36:33for the sovereignty of Greenland and

00:36:37Denmark, and also for the strengthening of

00:36:42support for Arctic security against the

00:36:46Russian threat, which she is right to

00:36:49highlight.

00:36:50And she asked what work can be done to

00:36:53establish constructive discussions and

00:36:56talks.

00:36:57And indeed, this is an issue that I talked to the

00:37:00Danish Foreign Minister about today, because they

00:37:03have set out a process to have detailed talks with

00:37:07the US on how to strengthen security around

00:37:11Greenland, being very clear that the issue of

00:37:16sovereignty was non-negotiable, but there are many

00:37:19issues to be discussed around strengthening

00:37:22security.

00:37:23I have spoken to Secretary Rubio today, and we have

00:37:27agreed to take forward further discussions on this

00:37:31issue.

00:37:32And I can assure her too, we will be pursuing every

00:37:35avenue for discussions with directly with the US, but

00:37:39also with all of our close allies on this.

00:37:42The purpose being to prevent the tariffs, to prevent the

00:37:46trade escalation, the trade war that will be in no

00:37:49one's interest, and to replace the threats to

00:37:53sovereignty and tariffs with a constructive, shared

00:37:56approach to our security, including the issue of security in

00:38:01the Arctic.

00:38:02And I think it is a critical issue here that the Arctic is

00:38:06the gateway for the Russian northern fleet to be able to

00:38:10threaten the UK, to be able to threaten Western Europe, but

00:38:13also to be able to threaten the US, to be able to

00:38:16threaten Canada.

00:38:18And so that is why this is a shared threat and requires a

00:38:22shared response.

00:38:24And that is why I proposed as part of the discussions in

00:38:26Norway and in Finland last week that NATO should

00:38:30establish an Arctic century similar to the approach that

00:38:33NATO has taken to the Baltic century and to the Eastern

00:38:37century. Coordination that brings together and looks in a

00:38:41strategic way at all of the issues around security across the

00:38:45Arctic. We believe it is through those partnerships and through

00:38:48those alliances that we can best strengthen our shared security

00:38:53against the threats that should concern us most.

00:38:56The main purpose of the Prime Minister's speech today, his statement

00:39:05today, was of course to send out an international message. And I thank the

00:39:09Foreign Secretary for the skilful way in which she has amplified that

00:39:13message this evening. But there is another audience who deeply appreciate what

00:39:18the Prime Minister has had to say. Many ordinary people, many ordinary

00:39:22British people, are becoming increasingly anxious about the threats that are being

00:39:26made by one of our most important friends to one of our allies. They are

00:39:31frightened by the dark turn that international relations seem to have

00:39:35taken and the potential chaos that we may be heading for. In fact, I have to say a

00:39:40friend of mine texted me today to tell me that as she was watching the Prime

00:39:44Minister live, she was weeping. She has found this very frightening. So could the

00:39:50Foreign Secretary please convey the thanks of so many of us for his clarity,

00:39:55for his calm and for his leadership?

00:39:57I thank my Right Honourable Friend for those remarks and I will convey that message to the

00:40:06Prime Minister. I think what we have clearly seen is that our Prime Minister is

00:40:11standing up for the UK national interest, standing up for our security and prosperity,

00:40:18but also standing up for British values as well, because we know that our security and prosperity

00:40:26is strengthened by alliances and strengthened by partnerships, not strengthened by pulling apart.

00:40:32The Prime Minister, the Prime Minister, the Prime Minister, the Prime Minister, and the Prime Minister,

00:40:37can I associate myself and my party with the comments of the Foreign Secretary about the terrible

00:40:42rail crash in Spain and can I thank her for her statement?

00:40:46Madam Deputy Speaker, President Trump is acting like an international gangster,

00:40:53threatened to trample over the sovereignty of an ally,

00:40:56threatening the end of NATO altogether and now threatening to hit our country and seven European

00:41:04allies with outrageous damaging tariffs unless he gets his hands on Greenland. This is an incredibly

00:41:13grave moment for the United Kingdom, Europe and our world. Without provocation or justification,

00:41:21the President of the United States is attacking our economy, our livelihoods and our national security.

00:41:30Trump has put British businesses and jobs on the front line in his unprovoked aggression. The only

00:41:37people cheering him on are Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping. Only a few months ago, Trump hailed the

00:41:47special relationship at Windsor Castle. Now, thanks to his actions, it is nearly in tatters.

00:41:56So how do we stop Trump's damaging trade war? For a year now, Madam Deputy Speaker, the Prime Minister has

00:42:02tried a policy of appeasing Trump, flattering him, fawning over him, refusing to stand up to him, because

00:42:11he argued, otherwise Trump would hit us with damaging tariffs. Well, the Prime Minister has tested his

00:42:18approach to destruction. It has failed. It is time for the government to change course. We have to

00:42:27finally be clear-eyed about the sort of man Trump is and treat him accordingly. He is a bully. He thinks he

00:42:36can grab whatever he wants, using force, if necessary. And he is corrupt, the most corrupt

00:42:44President the United States has ever seen. So there are only two ways of getting him to back down.

00:42:51Bribing him with a new jet, perhaps, or a few billion in his crypto account. Or standing up to him,

00:42:59like we would with any other bully. Standing together with our European allies to make him back down.

00:43:07That is the choice. Which one, Foreign Secretary?

00:43:18This is clearly a serious moment. I wonder if the honourable gentleman actually saw the Prime

00:43:24Minister's response this morning. He should know that it is because this is a serious moment that we

00:43:35respond in a serious way. That this Prime Minister responds in a serious way, in a calm, robust and

00:43:46hard-headed way about what is in the UK's national interest and also how we work together in the

00:43:55alliances that are crucial for our security, our prosperity and also are underpinned by our values.

00:44:04That is why the Prime Minister has been so firm in the United Kingdom's response. It is why I welcomed

00:44:09the Danish Foreign Minister to London today. And I think that the honourable member's description of

00:44:17our Prime Minister's response and our UK Government response is inappropriate. I would say I think this

00:44:25is a really important time for parties to come together on how we ensure that we can respond to the

00:44:33situation that we are in, that we can work closely with our allies, but that we can also create a

00:44:40constructive approach to our Arctic security, which ultimately will depend on transatlantic cooperation

00:44:48and ultimately will depend on ensuring that those alliances and that transatlantic alliance

00:44:55respects the principles of sovereignty and respects the principles of collective security. That is

00:45:01something we will do in a sober and serious way.

00:45:05Hansing Desi.

00:45:06Thank you very much, Madam Deputy Speaker. What we are witnessing is a very rude awakening

00:45:11for European nations, including our own, that if you do not properly invest in sovereign capabilities

00:45:19for defence and security and rely instead on others, then sooner or later you will be bullied or

00:45:25blackmailed by larger nations. And the question for us is, are we just going to kick the

00:45:31can down the road and just trundle along with small gradual increases in defence investment or are we

00:45:39going to chart a path to 3% GDP defence spending in this parliament? Now, in terms of Arctic security,

00:45:47the Foreign Secretary intimated that only one British officer was involved in the Danish-led

00:45:54Operation Arctic Endurance in Greenland. Could she please update the House as to our current and

00:46:01future plan participation and are there any political or practical constraints in that future participation?

00:46:08Ms Secretary. The specific issue that he raised was not an operation, it was a planning

00:46:17process, as takes place very routinely, and that continues to be the case. What we are arguing for

00:46:24is a broader approach to Arctic security. In fact, the UK's strongest contribution is around the north of

00:46:32Norway. Our partnership with Norway is really now unrivalled, both the commandos, the excellent work

00:46:39that I saw at Camp Viking and elsewhere, and also of the frigates, the joint frigates there, and that is

00:46:46our unrivalled. For a non-Arctic nation, our contribution to Arctic security is now unrivalled, and we see this as being part of Arctic Century, a wider approach to the collective Arctic security.

00:47:02What I would also say is that he raises the issue about investment. This is exactly why we have

00:47:10put forward the biggest increase in defence spending for very many years.

00:47:15The Foreign Secretary, I am afraid, is being rather mealy-mouthed about a situation that the

00:47:22President of the United States obviously sees as very simple. He believes that either through extortion,

00:47:28and he's not denying that he may use military force to acquire Greenland, whichever way you look at it.

00:47:33So, two questions. First of all, as she will know, there are significant military assets owned by the

00:47:39United States based here in the United Kingdom. Could they be used as part of an invasion of Greenland

00:47:44against our will? And secondly, does she recognise that when tariffs were first wielded as a weapon

00:47:52against the Canadians, we should have stood with them rather than cutting a snivelling deal?

00:47:56The Foreign Secretary.

00:48:00Well, all I would say to them, first of all, as clearly that is not the situation that we are

00:48:04talking about. We have been very clear about the importance of both sovereignty and collective

00:48:11security, that this is not just part of the NATO alliance, that these are fundamental principles that

00:48:16we stand for as well. And in terms of the work around tariffs, as we will know, the work the Prime

00:48:23Minister Lead has been effective in addressing tariffs in the past. We will show the same

00:48:30determination and robust approach again. Similarly, we have done so on other issues as well. It is

00:48:37important that we focus around the results that we can get by taking a hard-headed approach. That is what

00:48:42we are continuing to do.

00:48:46Thank you, Mr Speaker. Knocking on doors in Denton, Westerhope, Arthurs Hill and Windgrove,

00:48:49for the first time in my 15 years as an MP, the number one issue was global insecurity.

00:48:57President Trump has succeeded in uniting the British people against his unwarranted attack on a close

00:49:05array. Now, my right hon. Friend is right to be calm and diplomatic, but will she reassure us that,

00:49:13given the current president's volatility, she and her government will ensure that our sovereignty is

00:49:23not dependent on US capability, and specifically that our technology procurement, both civil and defence,

00:49:33will reflect this.

00:49:38My hon. Friend is right to talk about the very strong feeling on this right across the UK,

00:49:43the very strong feeling for the sense of protecting sovereignty for the people of Greenland, for the

00:49:49people of Denmark more widely, and also the real deep sense that to have tariffs proposed in this way

00:49:59is just deeply wrong. It is also counterproductive to our collective security, but it is also deeply

00:50:05wrong. She also raises the issues about her UK resilience as well. She will know that on things

00:50:12like the Five Eyes Partnership there is very deep, long-standing cooperation and shared technology,

00:50:18but there are also areas where we agree that Europe needs to do more for its own defence and its own

00:50:24investment as well, and that is what we are doing.

00:50:27I declare an interest as chair of the all-party parliamentary group on Greenland.

00:50:35President Trump's threat to annex Greenland either the easy way or the hard way is pushing Europe to

00:50:41the verge of one of the biggest political and security crises we have faced in decades. Now,

00:50:48his threat to impose punitive tariffs on those opposing his illegal annexation means that the

00:50:55president of our closest ally is using economic and military threats against the UK and other European

00:51:02nations simply for defending sovereignty, self-determination and international law. On what

00:51:09basis does this government view this particular president as being a trustworthy and reliable ally?

00:51:17We have made very clear that threats to Greenland's sovereignty are wrong. Threats on tariffs and

00:51:28on economic pressure are wrong because allies should stand together and not face the kinds of threats

00:51:36that we have seen. Particularly that is an issue for the UK, but also particularly for Denmark,

00:51:43that has been such a close ally to both the UK and the US as well. We are taking a very robust,

00:51:52hard-headed approach to this, to work through what is in the UK national interest and to get a resolution

00:51:58to this that can protect and defend and strengthen the Arctic security and also UK security more widely and that is the right thing to do.

00:52:10Colleagues need to shorten their questions. Many members want to get in and that depends on the length of your questions. Alan Gemmell.

00:52:16Alan Gemmell Thank you very much, Madam Deputy Speaker.

00:52:18Can I thank the Foreign Secretary for setting out the UK's position on the future of Greenland,

00:52:23for the people of Greenland and for the Danes to decide. It is not right that one of our closest and oldest allies

00:52:30threatens us with economic sanctions. I have two questions for the Foreign Secretary. How will she explain to the US

00:52:35administration our interests and actions at this time and stop these sanctions and resolve the situation?

00:52:43And might she take an interest in the Franco-British fast jet replacement programme and a company called Oralas,

00:52:49so that we do not have to rely on a British solution, building on the excellent question from the member for Newcastle upon Times, Central and West?

00:52:56The Prime Minister. Well, I can say we have been very clear to the US and more widely about the

00:53:06importance of countries working together to strengthen security. That is exactly what

00:53:12Denmark has been seeking to do to strengthen security of Greenland as part of strengthening Arctic security

00:53:20against the Russian threat. That should be something which is recognised as important, recognised as

00:53:28valuable, where countries come together to do so, because Arctic security is a multilateral issue. It is

00:53:34not a unilateral issue. It is a multilateral issue. It will only be strengthened by countries working

00:53:40together. So this is about our interests on that shared collective security, but also our values in

00:53:47defending sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Foreign Secretary, the Prime Minister, NATO,

00:53:56the Danes and others have been commended for responding to this through the usual channels and

00:54:04through the usual means. That would be fine if we had an occupant of the White House who understood all of

00:54:11that and who respected all of that. But he laughs now, not just behind his hand, but blatantly in our faces as a result

00:54:20of that. So whilst all of that continues, we need to try and work out what makes this man tick. He is thin-skinned,

00:54:29he has an ego and he doesn't like to be embarrassed. Should the state visit go ahead this year? Should football teams

00:54:39play in American stadia for the World Cup? These are things which would embarrass the President at home.

00:54:48We now need to fight fire with fire.

00:54:50The Prime Minister

00:54:54Well, I think we heard from the Prime Minister the approach that he was taking this morning and what I

00:54:58would say is that the approach that our Prime Minister has taken, the approach that this Government has

00:55:06taken has already led to very big changes in the United States' initial proposals on tariffs that were,

00:55:15as a result, substantially reduced and changed as a result of that engagement. We have also seen,

00:55:22as a result of the engagement, big changes in the US approach to Ukraine, where considerable work has

00:55:32been done now to secure agreements around security guarantees that have been immensely important,

00:55:38and that is as a result of continued engagement, not just by the Prime Minister but others more widely.

00:55:44So we are clear about the importance of working in the UK's national interests and pursuing different

00:55:51issues around this in order to make sure that we protect UK businesses, UK prosperity and also our shared

00:55:59values, including around sovereignty as well.

00:56:01Bill Brickell Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker.

00:56:04And as a proud member of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly myself, can I thank the Foreign Secretary

00:56:09for her visit to our Marines at Camp Viking in Norway and her unequivocal stance on support for

00:56:15collective security with NATO at its heart. Now, I welcome the Rijkoff review into foreign

00:56:20interference in our politics. So can I ask the Foreign Secretary, in the context of NATO and Arctic

00:56:25security, whether she agrees, it is vitally important that we get to the bottom of the role that Russian

00:56:31money plays in trying to subvert our public discourse on these vitally important issues.

00:56:40I know that Honourable Friend and also others have been raising this issue particularly about the hybrid

00:56:48threats from Russia. So there are the direct threats that we see in the Arctic, but also these broader

00:56:56hybrid threats, which range from sabotage, including on undersea cables, but through to the foreign

00:57:01interference and information interference as well. I know that the Select Committee is doing important

00:57:08inquiry into this issue as well and look forward to its conclusions. But we have we have substantially

00:57:14increased UK sanctions to address some of these interference threats.

00:57:20Edward Morello.

00:57:22The post-war world order was based on the premise that like-minded Western liberal democracies

00:57:29would stand up for each other, that we would expand democracy wherever we saw it, that we would

00:57:33lower the barriers to free trade, and that through NATO we would engage in collective responsibility.

00:57:39An attack against one was an attack against all. It is clear that the President of the United States

00:57:44does not share these values. Does she not agree that the UK should be closely

00:57:49on military and economic bonds with the European allies who do share those values?

00:57:56The transatlantic security relationship of North America, US and Canada and Western Europe and the

00:58:07whole of Europe working together around security has been immensely important for a long time. We still

00:58:14continue to have the shared interests, shared threats. For example, Arctic security is very clearly a shared

00:58:22security interest. But we are also strengthening our direct security and defence cooperation with Europe. That was part of the EU reset. It was central to strengthening defence cooperation with Europe.

00:58:33We are bound by our close geography as well as our close geography as well as our shared values and interests. We will continue to strengthen those relationships.

00:58:45Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. Donald Trump's appalling threats to seize Greenland, along with his

00:58:55disgusting bombing of Venezuela, are a new form of gangster politics that are set out in his new national

00:59:03security strategy, which also speaks of boosting support for the far right across Europe. We have to deal with that

00:59:11reality. And Trump's threats of tariffs this weekend show how little we can rely on the so-called special

00:59:17relationship. So I want to ask the Foreign Secretary, instead of blindly following US policy, as we have

00:59:23all too often done in the past with disastrous consequences, isn't it now time to stand up to Trump and

00:59:29forge a new independent foreign policy based upon international law, peace and cooperation? Important values

00:59:37that are the very antithesis of what Donald Trump stands for.

00:59:41Yeah, yeah, yeah.

00:59:43Can I just caution the Honourable Member against somehow suggesting equivalence in a whole series of

00:59:52different areas? And I obviously are disappointed he doesn't, as part of his discussions, recognise the

01:00:00scale of the threat from Russia, which is the most serious threat the UK faces.

01:00:05Andrew Morrison.

01:00:06We have to ride the Trump tiger as best we can until November 2028. But the future of Greenland is for

01:00:14Greenlanders. However, when she's talking to her Danish interlocutors, could she ever so gently point out that

01:00:22small countries like Denmark have historically spent very little on their and on collective defence? And can she also,

01:00:32perhaps equally gently, admonish Denmark, since, along with most member states of the European Union,

01:00:39it has administered something of a punishment beating to this country since 2016?

01:00:45Well, I'm going to say to him that I was delighted to see the Danish Foreign Minister in London today. He is a

01:00:59friend and Denmark is a close friend of the UK. Denmark also stood firm alongside the UK, alongside the US, and

01:01:12including putting their own armed forces' lives at risk in Afghanistan, in other conflicts, in order to support

01:01:22close allies. I think they have shown immense dedication to principles of collective security.

01:01:30They continue to show substantial support for Ukraine against Russia. And I would just strongly show Denmark the UK's support.

01:01:40Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. This week's tensions highlight the strategic importance of the Greenland-Iceland-UK gap and the urgent need for Europeans to fill its gaps in being able to defend that space, which currently can only be done by the United States of America.

01:02:02So, can she update us on the Government's discussions with our European counterparts on strengthening our defence industries, and any discussions on full access to SAFE?

01:02:14My Honourable Friend has immense expertise in this area. He is right to highlight the Greenland-Iceland-UK gaps as being crucial to maintaining the security of the Atlantic,

01:02:30and as one on which a lot of the Arctic security issues are based. But it is also exactly why the UK and Norway are now jointly building new frigates as part of a major investment programme,

01:02:45one of the biggest defence contracts we have ever had, but also not just investing in jobs in the UK, but crucially in an unrivalled partnership to strengthen our maritime security.

01:02:59I will happily accept tariffs to oppose Trump and his corrupt regime. Not my words, but a Bath constituent who emailed me today. Does the Foreign Secretary not recognise the strong feelings of so many of our constituents who are ready to stand up to the bully that Donald Trump is, and want this Government to do the same?

01:03:23I think across the country there are strong feelings about the tariff threats that we have seen. It is why we have been very clear that they are completely wrong.

01:03:37I would also say that I think the impact of tariffs is felt on businesses, on consumers, on ordinary families in the US and in the UK. That is why, and in other European countries, that is why tariffs are completely counterproductive as well as being completely wrong.

01:03:57Emma Lewill. Thank you very much. I welcome the Prime Minister's calm diplomacy this morning. It is right that only adversaries stand to gain from the fracturing of NATO. I know the Government does not believe the US President is serious about using military force to seize Greenland, but even just in the last hour he has refused to rule this out.

01:04:19And my right hon. Friend will also know that the President spoke about wanting Greenland in his previous term in office. He has long been serious about this.

01:04:29As the UK is the lead nation in the Joint Expeditionary Force, can she assure me that alongside NATO level discussions we are also engaging fully with our GEF partners?

01:04:40Well, I can tell her that we do regularly engage with the Joint Expeditionary Force partners indeed. There were meetings around the Joint Expeditionary Force last week, and I believe there are further such meetings later this week as well, which of course the Ministry of Defence is heavily involved in supporting as well.

01:05:05Exactly because we take these shared security issues so seriously. We know for a country like the UK, our security depends on the alliances that we build, including with close European allies through the GEF.

01:05:19Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. Greenland is being offered two options, to be sold or to be annexed. This is naked imperialism. The Government of Greenland has made very clear that they will work with the US in any way that is necessary to protect

01:05:35our security and that of Europe's. But I am afraid that beyond vague diplomatic assurances of diplomatic activity and claims of being hard-headed, as a result of today's statement, I am not any clearer on what the Government is doing to keep us safe from these tariffs, but more importantly, to protect our security and the sovereignty of Greenland.

01:05:55What I would say to the honourable member, and to be honest, I am surprised at that question from her, because she does have experience around foreign affairs, and she knows the way in which the diplomatic discussions take place and the urgency with which those discussions are taking place right now. She will understand the importance of those discussions. She will understand the importance of those discussions. She will understand the importance of those discussions. She will understand the importance of the

01:06:25collaboration with the collaboration with our allies and partners and the way in which those discussions take place. She will also have seen the results of taking a similar hard-headed and robust approach in previous issues and the previous discussions that we have taken and will continue to take forward. What I would also just say is that the people of Greenland, we have seen the protests on the streets in Greenland, we have seen the strong

01:06:55views expressed expressed as well by the people of the Kingdom of Denmark more widely. We will continue to support them and their sovereignty.

01:07:02The 2009 Greenland Self-Government Act Chapter 8, Section 21 states, decisions regarding Greenland's independence shall be taken by the people of Greenland. Therefore, no external coercion should be applied to their people. What steps is my right honourable friend

01:07:25taking with our European allies to ensure that the Greenland Self-Government Act is respected and that no major power can pressure the Greenlanders over their constitutional status?

01:07:36Well, I welcome my honourable friend's point and this is exactly why my colleague, the European Minister, has been in touch with the Greenland Foreign Minister and why I had many discussions today with the Danish Foreign Minister about our support for the sovereignty of the

01:07:55the people of the people of Greenland. It is for them to decide their future and for them and the Danes side by side to decide their future and not for anyone else.

01:08:06I welcome the Foreign Secretary's approach saying we should be working with our allies. I fear that Donald Trump does not agree with her. However, what is the government doing to harden our infrastructure?

01:08:24We are heavily dependent on several American IT systems, for example, Palantir, which is controlled by Peter Thiel, who is well into the coterie of Donald Trump's administration. We've seen with a sanction that they could switch off Microsoft providing services to the International Criminal Court. Will the government look into making Palantir not a single point of failure in our critical systems, in the health service, the defence and cabinet office and now police?

01:08:53Well, I can tell him that we do take immensely seriously all issues around critical national infrastructure. We do have long-standing areas, for example, in our security and intelligence Five Eyes partnerships, which do involve technology partnerships which go back very many generations. In fact, I remember some of my first meetings with Five Eyes, Five Eyes meetings in the U.S.

01:09:22in the U.S. on this in over 25 years ago and that technology and partnerships have strengthened since. But he is also right to say that we should look at key areas where critical national infrastructure needs to be strengthened as well.

01:09:37Alex Sobel.

01:09:38Thank you, Madam Chair.

01:09:39I want to associate myself with Foreign Secretary's statement that the future Greenland is a matter for the Greenlanders and the Danes and them alone. We all know that the geosecurity of the High North is because of Russia's threat to NATO. I'm really pleased she went to Norway last week because, in fact, we have two Russian bases on NATO territory in Svalbard. What discussions did she have with her Norwegian counterparts about the possibility of ending the Russian

01:10:07presence on NATO territory in Svalbard?

01:10:09Well, he is right to highlight the issues in the High North being about the Russian threats. This has long been the case, but we have seen those threats grow. There was a time at the ending of the Cold War when I think everyone was optimistic that this might fundamentally change. Sadly, many years on, that has proven not to be the case. It is why this partnership between the U.K. and the U.S.

01:10:35and Norway is crucial, and it is crucial for our security, but it is actually crucial for the security of the whole of NATO and of many of our allies as well. I can assure him we keep our range of issues under discussion.

01:10:49Danny Kruger.

01:10:50Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. The Prime Secretary is, of course, absolutely right to insist that the future of Greenland is a question only for the people of Greenland. Does she acknowledge, though, that this crisis is the consequence of our weakness,

01:11:04weakness of decades of failure on the part of Europe and the U.K. to invest in defence and indeed a historic failure of statecraft on the part of the United Kingdom that saw one naval officer attend Greenland and have the consequence of 10% tariffs imposed on us?

01:11:20So she mentions this conversation she had in Scandinavia last week. Did she offer to do more than simply co-operate with our partners and neighbours, but to actually lead in the defence of Greenland by committing a proper joint expeditionary force led by the U.K. with the proper commitments to ensure the safety of Greenland?

01:11:38Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker.

01:11:39Can I just say to the Honourable Member that the biggest threat to Arctic security comes from Russia, and he would have a lot more credibility in talking about any of these Arctic security issues if he and his new party would actually look inwards at themselves and do the long-needed investigation into Russian influence in their party.

01:12:07Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I welcome the Prime Minister's strong response and assurances we have heard from the Foreign Secretary today. She quite rightly made clear that Donald Trump's claims to need to possess Greenland for security reasons are complete and utter nonsense. The U.S. already has access, and she talked about a multilateral approach to Arctic security.

01:12:33There is also the critical minerals element, which I suspect is also a great deal to do with his interest in the country. Can she say what we are doing to have a similar multilateral approach to critical minerals as we seek to divest from Chinese reliance?

01:12:48Prime Minister?

01:12:49Prime Minister.

01:12:50My Member, for instance, it is right to raise the broader issue around critical minerals. We know that many of the issues around Greenland are long-term issues, as opposed to immediate critical mineral issues. But there is a wider thing about ensuring that we have security around our critical mineral supply chains, and needing to work with other countries to prevent any country from having a chokehold around the supply of critical minerals. That is,

01:13:10and needing to work with other countries to prevent any country having a chokehold around the supply of critical minerals.

01:13:18That is crucial in some of our issues around new green technologies,

01:13:23but it's also crucial more widely on our economic prosperity and economic security for the future.

01:13:30All relationships, especially special relationships, need a foundation, must have a foundation of respect and mutual consent.

01:13:41What is the status within NATO of economic measures being used to force the annexation of a sovereign territory within NATO?

01:13:51Well, NATO allies need to respect each other, and that is a core part of the NATO alliance.

01:13:58It is what makes the alliance effective, and to not do so simply aids our adversaries.

01:14:07Joanna Baxter.

01:14:08Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker.

01:14:10I welcome both the Foreign Secretary's statement and the Prime Minister's remarks earlier this morning.

01:14:16It may be surprising that neither Greenland nor the Arctic were featured as a strategic priority

01:14:22and the United States' own national security strategy, which was published in November, but transatlantic trade did.

01:14:32So will the Secretary of State make clear to the United States administration

01:14:36that both its goals of prosperity and long-term security of the Arctic can only be achieved through close cooperation with allies,

01:14:44rather than dangerous rhetoric and actions that risk weakening the collective strength on which we all rely?

01:14:50I agree with my hon. Friend because our economic prosperity for the UK, for Western Europe,

01:15:00also for quite across Europe, but also for North America, including the US, Canada, as our other NATO allies,

01:15:07our prosperity is strengthened by trade rather than tariffs.

01:15:12Our security is strengthened by the cooperation through NATO

01:15:17and by respect for each other's sovereignty and collective security.

01:15:21Gavin Robinson.

01:15:23Thank you very much, Madam Deputy Speaker.

01:15:24The Foreign Secretary is right to say that NATO allies should not threaten one another.

01:15:28She is also right to highlight the threat and potential harm caused by trade wars and tariffs imposed.

01:15:34But does she understand the bemusement on the Northern Ireland benches,

01:15:39that whilst she talks strongly about sovereignty, it was this House that diminished the sovereignty of Northern Ireland

01:15:44and placed us into the European Union Customs Code?

01:15:47And I hope she recognises that there is a double-edged sword on tariffs for Northern Ireland.

01:15:53But Speaker Mike Johnson spoke at the weekend and he is addressing Parliament tomorrow.

01:15:58And he said very clearly that whilst he has heard what President Trump has said,

01:16:02he does not know what his aspirations are in relation to Greenland.

01:16:08Does she?

01:16:09Well, what I hope that really everyone across, not just the US administration,

01:16:18across the US would agree,

01:16:21is that we should have shared aspirations for our shared security in the Arctic

01:16:27and recognise that that includes respect for sovereignty,

01:16:31respect for that collective partnership

01:16:34and also recognising that the nature of the Arctic security threat

01:16:38and how much of it is maritime as well

01:16:41depends on countries working together

01:16:44because it depends on being able to address issues

01:16:48around the eastern end of the Arctic,

01:16:50around Northern Norway

01:16:51and around the western end of the Arctic

01:16:54and the Greenland-Iceland gap.

01:16:56It is only through having that co-operation

01:16:58that you can keep the Atlantic safe,

01:17:00you can keep all of our countries safe.

01:17:03Dr Peter Prinsley

01:17:03As possibly the only MP with American grandchildren,

01:17:10would the Secretary of State agree with me

01:17:12that whatever disagreements may arise

01:17:15between the Government and the Government of the United States

01:17:18about Greenland,

01:17:19the bonds of friendship and kinship

01:17:22between the peoples of this island

01:17:24and the peoples of the United States

01:17:26are historic, vital and enduring.

01:17:30My Honourable Friend is exactly right

01:17:34to highlight the strength of our bonds,

01:17:36the people-to-people bonds,

01:17:37but also the deep historic bonds

01:17:39and the continuing cooperation bonds.

01:17:42Even today, the US and UK have been discussing

01:17:45issues around terrorism threats in Northern Syria

01:17:49and needing to tackle Daesh and continued threats there.

01:17:53So, we have so many different areas

01:17:56of shared interests and also that shared history,

01:18:00and that is why it is so important

01:18:01that we pursue this disagreement

01:18:04in a robust and constructive way now.

01:18:07David Montel.

01:18:08Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker.

01:18:09In pushing back against the tariffs,

01:18:13can the Foreign Secretary and others make clear to the US

01:18:15that it is not just the potential imposition of these tariffs,

01:18:19but it is the bandying about of the threat of the tariffs

01:18:23which is so disruptive and difficult

01:18:26for major British businesses,

01:18:28such as the Scotch whisky industry,

01:18:30that export to the US.

01:18:32and therefore, if they are just game-playing or tactics,

01:18:36they are causing real damage right now.

01:18:41I agree with the Honourable Member

01:18:42about the impact that threats can have,

01:18:47the instability that it can cause,

01:18:49but also the importance of us having some stability,

01:18:53some respect in relationships

01:18:55is actually a crucial underpinning of the economy.

01:18:58Clive Efford.

01:18:59If this were a debate truly about the security of the Arctic,

01:19:05we would be talking about more than the sovereignty

01:19:08of the land of Greenland,

01:19:11which is clearly a matter for the Danes

01:19:13and the people of Greenland.

01:19:15But does she agree that our collective interests

01:19:19and security are best served

01:19:22through us working together collectively through NATO,

01:19:26rather than creating division in that alliance,

01:19:30which will only help those who want to do us harm?

01:19:35I agree with my Honourable Friend very strongly on this.

01:19:38I saw myself in the north of Norway

01:19:41the immense cooperation between the Royal Marines,

01:19:45the commandos, and our Norwegian colleagues.

01:19:48And also they briefed me on the nature of

01:19:51where the threat issues and concerns are

01:19:55and the way in which we need to respond to them

01:19:57and also the way in which that response there

01:20:00to the north of Norway also helps with the security

01:20:04right at the other side of the Atlantic

01:20:06in the US and in Canada as well.

01:20:09Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker.

01:20:12Trump is certainly an unreliable, unpredictable ally,

01:20:16and his comments today or yesterday

01:20:18about the Norwegian leadership makes us all wonder

01:20:21whether he is of sound mind.

01:20:23What can you do?

01:20:24You have to deal with him.

01:20:26I'm sure it hasn't escaped the Foreign Secretary's notice

01:20:28that the messaging from Congress

01:20:31is quite different to the messaging from the White House,

01:20:34and some of those divisions were exposed,

01:20:36particularly before Christmas in the passing

01:20:37of the Defence Appropriations Act in America.

01:20:40Can she reassure me that conversations are being had

01:20:43not just with the administration,

01:20:45but also right across Congress,

01:20:46where we have quite a lot of allies

01:20:48who are willing to support our position?

01:20:50The Hon. The Member is right

01:20:54that there are many different perspectives

01:20:56across the US system,

01:20:58both in terms of in the administration

01:20:59and in Congress as well.

01:21:02As he will also know,

01:21:03we have always had very close engagement

01:21:06with all aspects of the US system,

01:21:09including the engagement with Congress.

01:21:12Indeed, the House Speaker is in Parliament today.

01:21:17Sarah Smith.

01:21:18Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker.

01:21:20I want to put on the record my gratitude

01:21:22for the leadership that the Prime Minister

01:21:23and the Foreign Secretary have shown on this issue

01:21:26as it is evolving.

01:21:28But does the Foreign Secretary share my confusion

01:21:31that any member of this House

01:21:35who claims to be a patriot

01:21:36would be off joining a party

01:21:39who blames NATO for starting the Ukraine war,

01:21:43whose leader admires Vladimir Putin,

01:21:47and whose leader in Wales

01:21:48is currently serving 10 years in prison

01:21:50for taking Russian bribes?

01:21:53Well, I do agree with my honourable friend.

01:21:57We need to be very clear

01:21:59where the threat to our security,

01:22:02to UK security comes from,

01:22:04and the threat from Russia to our security,

01:22:07be that through the Arctic

01:22:08or be that through Ukraine,

01:22:11and the impact that it has on Europe.

01:22:13So I think, frankly,

01:22:14the idea that members of this House

01:22:15who call themselves patriots

01:22:17have been left to join a party

01:22:19that is so soft on Russia,

01:22:22I think is just astonishing.

01:22:24Dr Ellie Charles.

01:22:26Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker.

01:22:28Donald Trump rides roughshod

01:22:29over international law

01:22:30and international alliances.

01:22:32Now, the PM said,

01:22:33the trade war is in no one's interest.

01:22:35Of course.

01:22:36But we all know that

01:22:37if you give ground to a bully,

01:22:38you get bullied even more.

01:22:40Does the Foreign Secretary recognise

01:22:42that after a full year

01:22:44of attempting to appease Donald Trump,

01:22:46that strategy has comprehensively failed,

01:22:49that it's time to replace

01:22:50submission to the US

01:22:51with strength and solidarity

01:22:53with our European partners,

01:22:55and that the UK needs to make clear

01:22:57to Donald Trump

01:22:58that there are red lines,

01:23:00and that if he engages

01:23:01in hostile activity towards the UK,

01:23:04that will have practical consequences,

01:23:06not least in trade.

01:23:07Well, the UK security

01:23:12is strengthened by the NATO alliance,

01:23:16the transatlantic alliance.

01:23:18I know that there are

01:23:19some who want to reject Europe,

01:23:22there are some who want to reject

01:23:24the US and North America.

01:23:26We know that it is

01:23:27that transatlantic partnership

01:23:29that is what keeps us safe

01:23:31and is crucial.

01:23:33And that is why we believe

01:23:35in continuing with NATO.

01:23:37I know that there are some parties

01:23:38who want to ditch it.

01:23:40Grace.

01:23:41Thank you, Madam Secretary Speaker.

01:23:42I want to welcome

01:23:43the calm and robust approach

01:23:45to American allies on this issue

01:23:47from the Foreign Secretary

01:23:48and from the Prime Minister

01:23:48this morning.

01:23:49State sovereignty,

01:23:50respect for territorial integrity,

01:23:52and the right of self-determination

01:23:53has been the bedrock

01:23:54of global affairs

01:23:55since the end of World War II.

01:23:56Indeed, it is why

01:23:57a Ukrainian victory

01:23:58against Russian aggression

01:23:59is so important

01:24:00for global stability.

01:24:01Can the Foreign Secretary

01:24:02set out how,

01:24:04in order to deter further

01:24:05Russian aggression

01:24:05on this continent as well,

01:24:07we are working with

01:24:07our high Arctic partners

01:24:09in Norway and in Finland,

01:24:10for example,

01:24:11to further protect

01:24:12our own continent?

01:24:15I welcome that from

01:24:16my honourable friend

01:24:17because the work

01:24:18we are strengthening,

01:24:19we are increasing,

01:24:21we are doubling

01:24:21the number of UK marines

01:24:24who are based

01:24:25in the north of Norway

01:24:28in the space of three years.

01:24:30We are jointly building frigates

01:24:33in order to strengthen

01:24:34our Arctic security.

01:24:36And we are also working

01:24:37through NATO

01:24:38but also beyond

01:24:39through the Coalition

01:24:40of the Willing

01:24:41and with the US

01:24:43on security guarantees

01:24:45for Ukraine

01:24:47because that is crucial

01:24:48to delivering a just

01:24:49and lasting peace.

01:24:50Blake Stevenson.

01:24:51The Western world

01:24:53must remain united

01:24:54to keep us all safe

01:24:55from both Russia

01:24:55and China.

01:24:57Regrettably,

01:24:58we are far from united

01:24:59right now

01:25:00and many of our

01:25:01constituents

01:25:02will be concerned

01:25:03about the risk

01:25:04to our country

01:25:05and critical infrastructure.

01:25:07At the same time

01:25:08as trying to reinvigorate

01:25:10our relationships

01:25:11with our NATO partners,

01:25:13should our planning assumption,

01:25:14our worst case planning assumption

01:25:16now be that the USA

01:25:17may not be by our side

01:25:19if and when we need them

01:25:20in the future.

01:25:21And if it wasn't clear

01:25:22before this week,

01:25:24surely it's clear now

01:25:25that spending on defence

01:25:26must rise immediately

01:25:27to at least 3% of GDP.

01:25:30Does the Foreign Secretary agree?

01:25:32Well, this government

01:25:34is responsible

01:25:35for the biggest increase

01:25:37in defence spending

01:25:38for very many years

01:25:39and he will know that

01:25:40under the previous

01:25:42Conservative government,

01:25:43the level of investment

01:25:45in defence did not reach

01:25:482.5% throughout

01:25:50their period

01:25:51and I think that

01:25:53the defence infrastructure

01:25:55was hollowed out

01:25:56for too long.

01:25:57It's right that we invest

01:25:59in it for the future

01:26:00but it's also right

01:26:01that we build

01:26:02our partnerships.

01:26:03Dame Lea Griffiths.

01:26:04Thank you very much.

01:26:05As the Foreign Secretary

01:26:06has already alluded to,

01:26:07the 1951 agreement

01:26:09allows the US

01:26:10to construct and operate

01:26:12military bases

01:26:13across Greenland,

01:26:14house personnel

01:26:14and control the movement

01:26:15of ships and aircraft.

01:26:17So will she do all she can

01:26:19to urge US counterparts

01:26:20to use this agreement

01:26:22to provide enhanced protection

01:26:24for NATO's northern borders

01:26:26and drop the outrageous idea

01:26:28of the threat of tariffs

01:26:30which is causing

01:26:31very damaging uncertainty

01:26:33for our industry

01:26:34and if implemented

01:26:34would not only hit our industry

01:26:35but would further fuel inflation

01:26:37for the US consumer.

01:26:39Vance, Secretary.

01:26:40My Honourable Friend

01:26:41makes a really important point

01:26:42because the 1951 agreement

01:26:44has huge flexibility

01:26:46and provides for

01:26:48actually considerable

01:26:49joint working

01:26:50between the US

01:26:51and Denmark

01:26:53and Greenland

01:26:54on strengthening security

01:26:56in that part

01:26:58of the Arctic

01:26:59and I know many countries

01:27:01will be keen

01:27:01to work with them

01:27:02on exactly that.

01:27:03That's why we think

01:27:04the talks that had begun

01:27:06last week

01:27:07between the Danish Foreign Minister

01:27:11and also the US Secretary of State

01:27:14and Vice President

01:27:16were an important opportunity

01:27:17to be able to explore

01:27:19the 1951 Treaty.

01:27:20Luke Taylor.

01:27:22Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker.

01:27:23Diplomacy relies on rational actors

01:27:26yet even the last fortnight

01:27:27we have seen Donald Trump

01:27:29declare that

01:27:30he is not bound by international law

01:27:32only his own morality.

01:27:33He has deployed paramilitary forces

01:27:35against his own people

01:27:36and he speaks of cancelling elections.

01:27:38How out?

01:27:39We also see the unilateral kidnapping

01:27:41of the president

01:27:42of an independent country.

01:27:45We are not dealing

01:27:46with a rational man.

01:27:48He responds only

01:27:48to shiny baubles

01:27:50as we have seen

01:27:51with the incredible saga

01:27:52of the Nobel Peace Prize.

01:27:54Subscribe to OneIndia

01:27:57and never miss an update.

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