Donald Trump has directed criticism towards the UK while escalating his threats to acquire Greenland.
In a recent post on Truth Social at 6.38 am UK time today, the US President referred to the UK’s decision to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius as an “act of GREAT STUPIDITY.” He argued that this move further justifies the US’s need to take possession of Greenland.
Sir Keir Starmer is scheduled to engage in discussions with ministers at his weekly Cabinet meeting today following his call for restraint in response to the US leader’s warnings of a trade conflict over the Arctic island. Trump emphasized on Monday evening that he was fully committed to imposing tariffs on the UK and European allies due to their opposition to his plans for Greenland. The European Union is planning an emergency summit in Brussels on Thursday to address Trump’s recent ultimatum.
Expressing his views in the post, the US President stated, “Our ‘brilliant’ NATO Ally, the United Kingdom, is currently in the process of handing over the Island of Diego Garcia, the location of a crucial U.S. Military Base, to Mauritius, and doing so WITHOUT ANY JUSTIFICATION. China and Russia have undoubtedly taken note of this display of weakness.”
“These are global powers that only respect STRENGTH, which is why the United States of America, under my leadership, is now, within just one year, esteemed like never before. The UK’s decision to relinquish highly strategic territory is an act of GREAT STUPIDITY and adds to a long list of national security reasons why Greenland must be acquired. Denmark and its European Allies must take the appropriate actions. Thank you for addressing this matter. PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP.”
The Chagos Islands have been under British jurisdiction since 1814, when they were transferred from France along with Mauritius. These islands were established as the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) in 1965, and the native Chagossian population was forcibly displaced shortly after to facilitate the construction of a U.S. military base on Diego Garcia, the largest island in the region.
Last year, the UK reached an agreement to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while maintaining control of a UK-US military facility on Diego Garcia. Sir Keir indicated that the 99-year leaseback agreement for Diego Garcia would cost the UK £101 million annually. The Trump administration had previously endorsed the agreement, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio hailing it as a significant achievement in May.
Trump’s statements came after European allies reiterated their support for Greenland’s autonomy, with UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper highlighting that the future of the semi-autonomous Danish territory should be determined solely by “Greenlanders and the Danes.” Denmark, which dispatched troops to Greenland last week, cautioned that any U.S. seizure of the territory would signal the end of NATO.
In an earlier post on Truth Social during the early hours of Tuesday, Trump mentioned having had a “very productive phone call” with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and agreed to convene a meeting “involving various parties” in Davos, Switzerland, at the World Economic Forum. He did not specify the attendees of the meeting but emphasized the critical importance of Greenland for national and global security, stating that there is no turning back on this consensus.
Trump has threatened to impose a 10% tariff on all goods shipped from the UK to the US starting on February 1, escalating to 25% from June 1 unless an agreement is reached for Washington to purchase Greenland from Denmark. He asserted that the same approach would be applied to other NATO members, including Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Finland.
When asked about the likelihood of enforcing the tariffs, Trump affirmed to NBC News, “I will, 100%.” However, he declined to comment on whether force would be used to acquire Greenland, noting, “No comment.” Trump also urged Europe to focus on the conflict with Russia and Ukraine, emphasizing that Europe should prioritize these issues over Greenland.
A spokesperson for Starmer stated on Sunday that the Prime Minister had issued a strong rebuke to Trump over the phone, emphasizing that “Applying tariffs on allies for pursuing the collective security of NATO allies is wrong.”
Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed concerns that the tariffs would not benefit anyone. He stressed the importance of avoiding escalation in the dispute and mentioned the possibility of retaliatory measures to safeguard