UK Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has criticised US President Donald Trump’s threat to impose new tariffs on the UK and several European countries over the dispute involving Greenland, calling the move “a terrible idea”.
Responding on X on Saturday, Badenoch said: “A terrible idea. President Trump is completely wrong to announce tariffs on the UK over Greenland. People in both the UK and US will face higher costs. These tariffs will be yet another burden for businesses across our country. The sovereignty of Greenland should only be decided by the people of Greenland. On this, I agree with Keir Starmer.”
Her comments follow Trump’s announcement that he plans to raise import taxes on goods from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands and Finland, amid opposition to his proposal that the US should take control of Greenland.
According to the White House, a 10 percent tariff could take effect from 1 February, with the possibility of rising to 25 percent at a later stage. Trump has argued that US ownership of Greenland is necessary for national security and has not ruled out the use of force.
European leaders have reacted strongly. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the threat as “completely wrong”, while French President Emmanuel Macron called it “unacceptable”. EU ambassadors are scheduled to hold emergency talks after Trump warned of trade penalties against allies opposing his Greenland stance.
Badenoch’s intervention aligns her with Starmer in rejecting the tariff threat, while stressing that decisions over Greenland’s future should rest solely with its population, not external powers.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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