BY Rosemary
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer held a phone conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday after consulting with senior European and NATO leaders, using the talks to stress that imposing tariffs on allies for actions linked to shared defence commitments would be a mistake and risk undermining collective security.
According to a spokesperson at Downing Street, Starmer spoke earlier in the day with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. The discussions focused on security in the Arctic and the wider High North, an area of growing strategic importance as geopolitical competition intensifies and military activity increases.
Following those conversations, Starmer raised the issue directly with Trump, making clear his view that using trade measures against allies acting in support of NATO’s collective defence runs counter to the principles of the alliance. He argued that cooperation among allies, rather than economic pressure, was essential to maintaining stability and protecting shared interests.
In each of the calls, Starmer reiterated Britain’s position on Greenland, which has emerged as a focal point in recent debates over Arctic security. He emphasized that safeguarding the High North is a priority for all NATO members, given the region’s strategic significance for transatlantic defence, shipping routes and energy infrastructure.
The Downing Street spokesperson said the prime minister underscored the need for a united approach among allies to address security challenges in the region, warning that disagreements spilling over into trade disputes could weaken the alliance at a critical time. Starmer’s intervention reflects broader concerns among European leaders about maintaining cohesion within NATO as it confronts an increasingly complex global security environment.
No details were released about Trump’s response during the call, but the exchange comes amid heightened sensitivity around trade policy and defence spending within the alliance. British officials said Starmer would continue to engage closely with allies and partners to ensure that security cooperation in the High North remains firmly anchored in collective action rather than unilateral measures.