𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Donald Trump’s tariff threats risk a “dangerous downward spiral”, the UK and European allies have warned.

The US President has vowed to slap a 10% tariff on “any and all goods” sent to America unless he is allowed to buy Greenland from Denmark.

Mr Trump, retaliating to eight countries sending troops to the Arctic island for an exercise, also warned the NATO allies they were playing a “very dangerous game”.

EU ambassadors will meet in Brussels for emergency talks on Sunday evening to discuss the bloc’s response.

But the UK, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Finland have issued a joint statement on Sunday, declaring: “As members of Nato, we are committed to strengthening Arctic security as a shared transatlantic interest.

“The pre-coordinated Danish exercise Arctic Endurance conducted with Allies, responds to this necessity. It poses no threat to anyone.

“We stand in full solidarity with the Kingdom of Denmark and the people of Greenland. Building on the process begun last week, we stand ready to engage in a dialogue based on the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity that we stand firmly behind.

“Tariff threats undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral. We will continue to stand united and coordinated in our response. We are committed to upholding our sovereignty.”

The European Parliament has warned it will pause ratification of the US-EU trade deal signed by Mr Trump and Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission’s president, last July in Scotland.

President Trump said on Saturday that the UK will be charged a 10% tariff “on any and all goods” sent to the US from February 1, increased to 25% from June 1, until a deal is reached for Washington to purchase Greenland from Denmark.

Earlier this week, the UK confirmed it had sent a military officer to Greenland as Denmark stepped up its military presence in the Arctic and High North.

Downing Street said they were sent at Denmark’s request to join a reconnaissance group ahead of a planned Arctic endurance exercise, but denied it amounted to a “deployment”.

Mr Trump said the countries were playing a “very dangerous game”.

He said it was “time for Denmark to give back”, adding: “China and Russia want Greenland, and there is not a thing that Denmark can do about it.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has called the plan to apply tariffs “completely wrong” and said he would be “pursuing this directly” with the US administration.