Britain has drawn a clear line: Greenland’s future will be decided in Nuuk and Copenhagen, not Washington. Hours after President Donald Trump threatened a 10% tariff on imports from eight European allies from 1 February - rising to 25% - the UK joined Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden in a joint warning that such measures “undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral.” ([apnews.com](Link

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy called the threat “deeply unhelpful”, reaffirming that “the future of Greenland is a matter for the people of Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark,” and urging an “adult debate” with the White House. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer labelled the move “completely wrong” and said the government would take this up directly with the US administration. ([theguardian.com](Link

Trump frames Greenland as a national security question and has not ruled out force, though his team says purchase is the first route. European capitals insist the Danish‑led Arctic Endurance drill is defensive and “poses no threat”, and the EU is weighing its new anti‑coercion instrument in response. The UK contribution so far amounts to a single Army officer in a reconnaissance group, according to reports. ([cbsnews.com](Link

Why Greenland matters is no mystery. The United States operates Pituffik Space Base - its northernmost installation - hosting early‑warning radar and space‑tracking systems crucial to NATO. About 150–200 US personnel are permanently stationed there, with the wider base community often cited at roughly 600 including contractors and local staff. ([forbes.com](Link

Climate is the quiet driver of this crisis. The World Meteorological Organization confirmed 2024 as the warmest year on record, while NOAA reports Greenland’s ice sheet still lost around 129 ± 50 Gt in 2025. Retreating summer sea ice is shortening routes and drawing in military planners, as recent coverage has shown. ([public.wmo.int](Link

Minerals add another pull. USGS data put Greenland’s rare earth reserves at roughly 1.5 million tonnes, with world‑class deposits at Kvanefjeld and Tanbreez. Yet Greenland’s parliament banned uranium mining above 100 ppm in 2021 and halted new oil and gas exploration that same year - a deliberate choice to set firm environmental guardrails. ([csis.org](Link

For UK households and firms, tariffs mean higher costs. They are collected from importers at the border and typically feed through to prices. Empirical studies from NBER and the IMF found near‑complete pass‑through of the 2018–19 US tariffs to importer prices, with some rise at the till and margins squeezed. ([cfr.org](Link

There is still space to step back. The eight nations say they are ready for dialogue rooted in sovereignty and territorial integrity, and even US House Speaker Mike Johnson has said he does not foresee military intervention and that diplomatic channels are “the way to go”. Denmark’s drill is framed as routine allied security work. ([cbsnews.com](Link

Constructive steps are practical ones: Europe can prepare its anti‑coercion tool while talks continue; NATO and the Arctic Council can tighten transparency around Arctic exercises and safety rules; and London and Brussels can cut pressure on Greenland by accelerating rare‑earth recycling and substitution, funding sustainable projects such as hydropower, and guaranteeing free, prior and informed consent for any future extraction. ([ft.com](Link

Above all, decisions about Greenland rest with Greenlanders. Their leaders have repeated that the island is not for sale, and thousands rallied in Nuuk and Copenhagen this weekend to say the same. Climate risk, critical minerals and security are colliding in the Arctic - but a calmer path that respects rights and keeps the region stable is still available. ([cbsnews.com](Link