donald trump refuses to say if he'll use military force to takeover greenland

Donald Trump said he was 100% committed to hitting the UK and European allies with tariffs (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Donald Trump has refused to rule out if he will use military force to launch a takeover of Greenland after stating that a snub from the Nobel Peace Prize led him to launch his takeover.

The US President implied he was still considering the potentially explosive move despite a plea from Sir Keir Starmer for ‘calm discussions’ over the Nordic territory.

When asked by NBC News if he would use force to take the island,the US President replied: ‘No comment.’

He also said he will ‘100%’ follow through on his tariff threats,in remarks that will come as a blow to Sir Keir after this morning’s speech.

Speaking at an emergency Downing Street press conference,the Prime Minister labelled the US president’s threat to impose tariffs on the UK ‘completely wrong’.

He said ‘economic pressure’ was ‘not the right way to resolve differences’ over Greenland as he appeared to rule out imposing retaliatory tariffs on the US.

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Craig Munro breaks down Westminster chaos into easy to follow insight,walking you through what the latest policies mean to you. Sent every Wednesday. Sign up here.Addressing the nation after a phone call with Trump yesterday,he told reporters that the future of Greenland was up to Greenlanders and the Kingdom of Denmark.Trump announced last week that he would place 10% tariffs on the UK,increased to 25% from June 1,until a deal is reached for Washington to purchase Greenland from Denmark.He said the same would apply to Denmark, Norway, Sweden,France, Germany,the Netherlands and Finland.Asked if he will follow through the tariff threat,Mr Trump told NBC News: ‘I will,100%.’He said: ‘Europe ought to focus on the war with Russia and Ukraine because,frankly,you see what that’s gotten them … That’s what Europe should focus on – not Greenland.’Greenlanders protesting Trump’s threats on Saturday (Picture: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)Prime Minister Keir Starmer said retaliatory tariffs are not the answer (PictureL AP)Speaking to reporters this morning,Sir Keir said tariffs would hurt British workers,businesses and the British economy.He said: ‘The use of tariffs against allies is completely wrong.‘It is not the right way to resolve differences within an alliance,nor is it helpful to frame efforts to strengthen Greenland security as a justification for economic pressure.’The prime minister appeared to reject the idea of hitting back with retaliatory tariffs against the US.He said: ‘A tariff war is in nobody’s interest.‘We have not got to that stage,my focus is making sure we don’t get to that stage.’@alrightgov I asked @keirstarmer how we can rely on an unreliable US #ukpolitics #keirstarmer #Greenland #Trump #uknews♬ Trap,hip hop,dark beat ♪(963369) – Ninja_Muzik_TokyoAsked if he genuinely believed the US President was considering military action if he didn’t get his way,the Prime Minister replied: ‘I don’t actually.‘I think that this can be resolved and should be resolved through calm discussion,but with the application of the principles and values that I’ve set out in terms of who decides the future of Greenland,and making clear that the use of tariffs in this way is completely wrong.’Meanwhile Trump suggested the decision not to award him the Nobel Peace prize – given each year in Norway’s capital Oslo – had influenced his attitude to Greenland.In a letter to Norwegian prime minister Jonas Gahr Store,Mr Trump also said he no longer feels ‘an obligation to think purely of peace’.Its latest winner,Venezuela’s opposition leader María Corina Machado,

even gave him her medal as thanks for seizing its despot leader Nicolas

Maduro in Caracas last month.In response,Norway’s exasperated prime minister Jonas Gahr Store says he has repeatedly tried to explain that him missing out on prize was not a snub by his country.Mr Store told reporters: ‘Regarding the Nobel Peace Prize,I have repeatedly clearly explained to Trump what is well known – it is an independent

Nobel Committee,not the Norwegian government,that awards the prize.’The Nobel Prize was founded in 1901 from a legacy left by Swedish industrialist Alfred Nobel – ironically the inventor of dynamite.

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In a phone call with Trump yesterday,Downing Street said the Prime Minister reiterated his belief that Greenland’s future was for Denmark and Greenland to decide.

He also stressed that the security in the High North is a priority for all Nato allies.

Sir Keir called an emergency press conference after speaking over the phone with Donald Trump yesterday (Picture: Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire)

Why does Donald Trump want Greenland?

A map showing Greenland’s key strategic position (Picture: Metro)

Trump has never been shy about his desire to claim Greenland for his own,claiming the island is vital for American national security.

Greenland sits in the Arctic Circle,where world powers have for years been jostling for military control – the US has a missile defence base on it.

By seizing the island,Washington says it would have an outpost between the Atlantic Ocean and the Arctic.

As climate change melts the Arctic icecaps,the once nearly impossible-to-navigate ocean is becoming more alluring.

The country also has large amounts of rare minerals used to make essentials like batteries,phones and vehicles. It may also have pools of oil and gas,though scientists warn it’s too risky to dig for them.

Greenland’s mass protest

Greenlanders held a mass protest on Saturday,declaring their home is ‘not for sale’.

A huge crowd of angry locals held signs and waved their national flag in the capital,Nuuk.

The US President has long declared his intention to seize the mineral-rich self-governing Danish territory,saying the region is crucial for US national security.

Soldiers from the Danish army take part in live-fire training after they arrive in Greenland,on Sunday (Picture: Danish Defence Command/UPI/Shutterstock)

Trump ratcheted up the language on Saturday,writing on his Truth Social page: ‘We have subsidised Denmark,and all of the Countries of the European Union,and others,for many years by not charging them Tariffs,or any other forms of remuneration.

‘Now,after Centuries,it is time for Denmark to give back — World Peace is at stake!’

Despite Trump’s pestering,Denmark and other European leaders have repeatedly stressed that the sparsely populated island is not for sale.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has warned any military attack on Greenland – which Trump has refused to rule out – could spell the end of Nato.