![\"Jakub](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1768818374_314_Jakub_Krupa.png\")
Jakub Krupa<\/p>\nMorning opening: ‘I no longer feel obligation to think purely of peace’Jakub Krupa<\/p>\n
US president Donald Trump<\/a> and senior members of his administration have repeatedly reiterated their determination to take control of Greenland overnight, just hours after the European leaders started frantically coordinating their response to the US move to impose tariffs on most vocal opponents of the plan.<\/p>\n Overnight, Trump said in a social media post:<\/p>\n \u201cNato has been telling Denmark, for 20 years, that \u201cyou have to get the Russian threat away from Greenland.\u201d Unfortunately, Denmark has been unable to do anything about it. Now it is time, and it will be done!!! President Donald J. Trump\u201d<\/p>\n US treasury secretary Scott Bessent also pursued a similar line, telling NBC broadcaster that \u201cEuropeans project weakness, US projects strength.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe president believes enhanced security is not possible without Greenland<\/a> being part of the US,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n In further escalation, he also appeared to link the future of Greenland with the continuation of the US support for Ukraine<\/a>.<\/p>\n He said:<\/p>\n \u201cThe European leaders will come around. And they will understand that they need to be under the US security umbrella. What would happen in Ukraine if the US pulled its support out? The whole thing would collapse.\u201d<\/p>\n The issue of Greenland\u2019s future will continue to dominate the news agenda today, as the Europeans coordinate their next steps ahead of this week\u2019s extraordinary EU summit, expected on Thursday. UK prime minister Keir Starmer is also expected to wade in, with a special emergency press conference convened for this morning.<\/p>\n Later today, the Danish and Greenlandic ministers will also meet with Nato\u2019s secretary general Mark Rutte, who has been one of Trump\u2019s closest European partners.<\/p>\n But even being the extremely diplomatic (or sycophantic, if you ask his critics) and glass-half-full kind of person, the Dutchman couldn\u2019t strike a particularly positive tone after his Sunday night call with Trump, saying in a terse readout that he \u201cspoke with @POTUS regarding the security situation in Greenland and the Arctic. We will continue working on this, and I look forward to seeing him in Davos later this week.\u201d<\/p>\n And yet\u2026<\/p>\n Perhaps the most explosive revelation this morning comes from another direction, first reported by PBS journalist Nick Schifrin<\/a>, and later widely reported in Europe.<\/p>\n Over the weekend, Trump sent a letter to Norway\u2019s prime minister Jonas Gahr St\u00f8re telling him that \u201cconsidering your country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace.\u201d<\/p>\n (Norway doesn\u2019t decide the Nobel Peace Prize, mind you. It\u2019s an independent committee based in Oslo, not controlled by the Norwegian state.)<\/p>\n He added, magnanimously, \u201calthough [thinking about peace] will always be predominant, but [I] can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America.\u201d<\/p>\n Trump then doubled down on his threat against Denmark<\/a> over Greenland, saying:<\/p>\n \u201cDenmark cannot protect that land from Russia or China, and why do they have a \u2018right of ownership\u2019 anyway? There are no written documents, it\u2019s only that a boat landed there hundreds of years ago, but we had boats landing there, also. I have done more for Nato than any other person since its founding, and now, Nato should do something for the United States. The World is not secure unless we have Complete and Total Control of Greenland. Thank you! President DJT\u201d<\/p>\n Amusingly, the Norwegian PM has confirmed the authenticity of the letter to VG newspaper<\/a>, saying it came in a response to his and Finnish president Alexander Stubb\u2019s earlier message to Trump.<\/p>\n It\u2019s going to be a crazy day today, so brace. I will bring you all the latest here.<\/p>\n It\u2019s Monday, 19 January 2026, it\u2019s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.<\/p>\n Good morning.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a003.54 EST<\/p>\n Key events<\/p>\n Show key events only<\/p>\n Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature<\/p>\n Kremlin says Trump would ‘certainly go down in history’ if he took Greenland<\/p>\n Meanwhile, the Kremlin said that it was hard to disagree with experts who said that US president Donald Trump<\/a> would go down in the history of the United States and the world if he took control of Greenland, Reuters reported.<\/p>\n \u201cHere, perhaps, it is possible to abstract from whether this is good or bad, whether it will comply with the parameters of international law or not,\u201d spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said, but stated it would \u201ccertainly go down in history.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Starmer’s press conference on Greenland – summary<\/p>\n UK prime minister Keir Starmer has insisted that \u201cany decision on Greenland belongs to people of Greenland and Denmark alone\u201d (10:25<\/a>), as he criticised Trump\u2019s plan to impose tariffs on allies are \u201ccompletely wrong\u201d (10:26<\/a>) in some of his strongest comments about the US president yet.<\/p>\n But he still hit markedly softer tones than most European allies, such as France and Germany, (9:56<\/a>) in his response to US president Donald Trump\u2019s escalating rhetoric on Greenland, refusing to commit to any form of retaliation against US tarrifs (10:35<\/a>), and reiterating the strategic importance of the UK\u2019s relationship with the US (10:22<\/a>).<\/p>\n When pushed on this, he insisted the approach he has taken has generated billions of pounds in investment and security cooperation with the US keeps the UK safe in ways he cannot always discuss.<\/p>\n Starmer also appeared to pick up a suggestion, first floated by Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni, that the European decision to move military personnel to Greenland may have been misunderstood by Trump (10:45<\/a>).<\/p>\n The UK prime minister also said he would continue engaging with Trump \u201cin coming days\u201d and will speak with the European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen \u201ctoday or tomorrow\u201d as he insisted that the UK was closely coordinating with the EU on this issue (10:52<\/a>).<\/p>\n For more quotes and UK specific lines, check UK blog with Andrew Sparrow:<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a005.15 EST<\/p>\n Starmer says he doesn’t think Trump is considering military action in Greenland – snap analysis It\u2019s also worth noting Starmer\u2019s comment that he doesn\u2019t think that Trump is actually considering military action on Greenland<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t actually. I think that this can be resolved and should be resolved, through, calm discussion.\u201d<\/p>\n Not entirely sure Denmark<\/a> or other European allies will see it the same way, though \u2013 or that they have much faith in \u201ccalm discussions\u201d with Trump.<\/p>\n Denmark has tried it last week, mind you, with that high-level meeting with JD Vance and Rubio and a decision to set up a working group on Greenland, only to then hear more and more rapidly escalating rhetoric coming from the US.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a005.00 EST<\/p>\n Despite markedly softer tone, Starmer insists there’s ‘unity and coordination’ with EU on response to Trump – snap analysis Despite Starmer\u2019s very markedly different, much softer, tone from that of other EU leaders, he insists there is \u201cproper unity and coordination\u201d in the EU and the UK\u2019s response.<\/p>\n \u201cI spoke to a number of EU leaders last night, I spoke to Ursula von der Leyen last night and intend to do so again, either today or tomorrow, so that we\u2019re closely aligned. There\u2019s proper unity and coordination in our response. <\/p>\n They will decide exactly what they will do next during the course of today in the coming days, but we\u2019re working very closely with them.\u201d<\/p>\n But he also \u2013 as he has been throughout this press conference \u2013 once again picks bits where he agrees with Trump, as he says \u201cEurope needs to do more on defence and security.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe haven\u2019t actually been able to be as effective as we might otherwise have been if we coordinated in years gone by. And I think it\u2019s really time for Europe to be much more united, much stronger on this issue. And that\u2019s one of the arguments I\u2019ve been leading on and making, to allies and leaders for some consistent and considerable time now.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Starmer picks up suggestion military moves on Greenland may have been misunderstood by Trump – snap analysis It\u2019s also interesting how Starmer picks up a suggestion from a journalist that Trump may have misunderstood the European push to move some (limited) military personnel to Greenland as a move against him, and not as their way of showing they hear and want to engage with his arguments on the importance of securing the Arctic.<\/p>\n He says \u201cthat is one of the things I discussed with President Trump yesterday, \u2026 those forces which were clearly there to assess and work on risk from the Russians.\u201d<\/p>\n I think Italy\u2019s Giorgia Meloni, one of Europe\u2019s best Trump whisperers, was the first leader to float this narrative as an off-ramp of sorts for all involved over the weekend, and this seems to be gaining some momentum.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a004.53 EST<\/p>\n Not clear how – or if – UK would retaliate against US tariffs – snap analysis This press conference feels like Starmer trying to explain why the UK is not as hawkish as, say, France or Germany (9:56<\/a>) in its response to Trump\u2019s threats on Greenland.<\/p>\n He keeps stressing how interconnected the UK is with the US, from economic issues to intelligence and defence, and how it therefore makes it absolutely critical to put diplomacy ahead of everything else, at all costs.<\/p>\n But does that mean he would not retaliate at all if Trump followed through on his tariff threats?<\/p>\n And the obvious question there, however, is: what if, now or further down the line, we discover that this soft approach simply doesn\u2019t and won\u2019t work?<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a004.54 EST<\/p>\n Starmer doesn’t respond to questions if UK would retaliate with tariffs against US<\/p>\n In a hint of what the UK\u2019s response could be, Starmer says \u201cthe tariffs should not be used against allies in this way in relation to the escalation.\u201d<\/p>\n But, despite being pushed on this point twice now, he doesn\u2019t say if the UK would retaliate or not if Trump followed through on his threat on tariffs.<\/p>\n There are a lot of words there about the need to offer a consistent response, but it\u2019s genuinely not clear if that\u2019s a yes or a no.<\/p>\n He says \u201ctariffs are not in anybody\u2019s interest\u201d and that he wants to avoid it, but does not say what he would do if they were unavoidable as a result of Trump\u2019s actions.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>UK will be ‘pragmatic,’ but not ‘passive,’ Starmer says<\/p>\n Starmer also says that the UK\u2019s view is to be pragmatic and not play to the audience or propose grandiose gestures, but to work behind the scenes to get to some sort of agreement.<\/p>\n He says:<\/p>\n \u201cBritain is a pragmatic country. We look for agreement. We believe in partnership, we prefer solutions to slogans and we will not indulge in commentary and gesture politics that harm the British people. But being pragmatic does not mean being passive. A partnership does not mean abandoning principle. That is why it\u2019s important to be clear about who we stand with, what we stand for, and where our interests lie.<\/p>\n \u2026<\/p>\n There will always be people who reach for the performative, who think an angry social media post or grandstanding is a substitute for hard work. That\u2019s an understandable instinct, but it\u2019s not effective. It never has been. It may make politicians feel good, but it does nothing for working people whose jobs, livelihoods and security rely on the relationships that we build across the world.\u201d<\/p>\n (Andrew Sparrow gives a bit more UK context on that here<\/a>.)<\/p>\n Not entirely clear what all of this means in practice though \u2013 would the UK impose retaliating tariffs on the US, for example? \u2013 so expect him to get asked about it later.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a004.36 EST<\/p>\n There\u2019s also a fairly nuanced explanation from Starmer on why he thinks all of that matters \u2013 should matter \u2013 to an average British person, as it affects their daily lives, as he proposes what he says \u201can active government\u201d policy.<\/p>\n I\u2019m sure Andrew Sparrow will pick up on what it means over on the UK blog.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n In a nod to Trump\u2019s efforts on Ukraine<\/a>, Starmer says he recognises the US president\u2019s role in pushing for ceasefire there \u2013 as he says \u201cwe will work closely with the United States, Ukraine and our other allies to apply pressure where it belongs: on Putin.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Trump’s tariff threats ‘completely wrong,’ with trade war ‘in no one’s interest,’ Starmer says<\/p>\n In his strongest criticism of Trump yet, Starmer goes on to say:<\/p>\n \u201cIn recent decades, alliances endure because they\u2019re built on respect and partnership, not pressure. That is why I said the use of tariffs against allies is completely wrong, nor is it helpful to frame efforts to strengthen Greenland<\/a> security as a justification for economic pressure.\u201d<\/p>\n He specifically says \u201csuch measures hurt British workers, British businesses and the British economy.\u201d<\/p>\n A trade war is in no one\u2019s interest, and my job is always to act in the UK\u2019s national interest.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>‘Any decision on Greenland belongs to people of Greenland and Denmark alone,’ Starmer says<\/p>\n Starmer has he \u201ctalks regularly\u201d with Trump and his team has \u201cdaily\u201d chats with senior people in the US administration.<\/p>\n But he says:<\/p>\n \u201cMature alliances are not about pretending differences don\u2019t exist. They are about addressing them directly, respectfully, and with a focus on results.\u201d<\/p>\n He says the security of Greenland<\/a> matters and will matter more as climate change progresses.<\/p>\n But he says \u201cthere is a principle here that cannot be set aside\u201d as he stresses \u201cany decision about the future status of Greenland belongs to the people of Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark<\/a> alone.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Starmer warns about ‘markedly more turbulent’ times, but reiterates importance of US relationship<\/p>\n Starmer says the world has become \u201cmarkedly more turbulent\u201d in recent times, but he says it\u2019s important to be clear about values guiding the UK through this period.<\/p>\n \u201cOur values were not improvised. They were built patiently over time. And while we are pragmatic in how we pursue our interests, we are resolute in defending those values when it matters.\u201d<\/p>\n But he opens with a positive tone on US relationship, as he says \u201cthe UK and the US are close allies and close partners,\u201d and \u201cthat relationship matters profoundly, not just to our security, but to the prosperity and the stability that people here depend upon.\u201d<\/p>\n This has not changed under Trump, he says.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>UK’s Starmer gives press conference on Greenland – watch live Meanwhile, Greenland\u2019s dogsled federation said that the new US special envoy to the Arctic island had been disinvited to its annual race, as Washington repeatedly threatens to take over the autonomous Danish territory, AFP reported.<\/p>\n Jeff Landry had been invited to attend the race by a private Greenlandic tour operator, an invite the KNQK federation has previously called \u201ctotally inappropriate\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cKNQK has been informed that the tourism company that invited Governor Jeff Landry from the United States has unilaterally withdrawn its invitation,\u201d it wrote on Facebook overnight. \u201cThis is reassuring,\u201d it added.<\/p>\n Landry said last week he was planning to come to Greenland in March.<\/p>\n Share<\/a> I will carry the key lines from UK prime minister Keir Starmer on Greenland<\/a> here so you have everything in one place, but if you\u2019re after a more detailed blow-by-blow coverage of his remarks, Andrew Sparrow will have this over on the UK live blog.<\/p>\n We will also have a live stream for you to watch along.<\/p>\n The prime minister is expected to be joined by his chancellor, Rachel Reeves, as she has apparently withdrawn from her appearance at the London Stock Exchange this morning, while UK stocks are falling, as Lauren Almeida is reporting over on the business blog.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Germany, France push back against Trump’s ‘blackmail’ on tariffs and Greenland<\/p>\n Meanwhile, a number of other European countries are giving their increasingly hardline responses to Trump\u2019s threats on trade and Greenland<\/a>.<\/p>\n Germany\u2019s vice-chancellor Lars Klingbeil said this morning that \u201cwe will not allow ourselves to be blackmailed,\u201d as he insisted that Europe<\/a> would \u201crespond with a united, clear response.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are now preparing countermeasures together with our European partners,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n His French counterpart, Roland Lescure, said that he would convene an urgent meeting of his counterparts from the G7 grouping to discuss Trump\u2019s latest comments, but reiterated that France was \u201cfully supportive of Greenland and Denmark<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBlackmail between friends is obviously unacceptable,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Trump’s explosive letter came in response to request for phone call, Norwegian PM says<\/p>\n Throwing a bit more light on Trump\u2019s unusual letter stating how he\u2019s no longer \u201cpurely\u201d interested in peace, Jonas Gahr St\u00f8re, the Norwegian prime minister, said the message came shortly after he and Finland\u2019s Alexander Stubb sent a letter opposing the proposed tariffs on some European countries.<\/p>\n \u201cWe pointed out the need to de-escalate the exchange of words and requested a phone call between Trump, Stubb and me during the day,\u201d he told VG newspaper.<\/a><\/p>\n But he noted that \u201cthe response from Trump came only shortly after we had sent the message,\u201d and Trump then decided to share the letter with other Nato countries\u2019 representatives, too.<\/p>\n St\u00f8re also reiterated his support for Denmark and Greenland<\/a>, and stressed that the state of Norway has nothing to do with the Nobel Peace Prize award-giving process.<\/p>\n Separately, numerous experts that the Norwegian paper spoke with called the letter a blatant attempt to \u201cblackmail\u201d Europe, with one particularly amused commentator telling VG that \u201cthe stupidity is so great that you hardly know where to begin.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Morning opening: ‘I no longer feel obligation to think purely of peace’ US president Donald Trump<\/a> and senior members of his administration have repeatedly reiterated their determination to take control of Greenland overnight, just hours after the European leaders started frantically coordinating their response to the US move to impose tariffs on most vocal opponents of the plan.<\/p>\n Overnight, Trump said in a social media post:<\/p>\n \u201cNato has been telling Denmark, for 20 years, that \u201cyou have to get the Russian threat away from Greenland.\u201d Unfortunately, Denmark has been unable to do anything about it. Now it is time, and it will be done!!! President Donald J. Trump\u201d<\/p>\n US treasury secretary Scott Bessent also pursued a similar line, telling NBC broadcaster that \u201cEuropeans project weakness, US projects strength.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe president believes enhanced security is not possible without Greenland<\/a> being part of the US,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n In further escalation, he also appeared to link the future of Greenland with the continuation of the US support for Ukraine<\/a>.<\/p>\n He said:<\/p>\n \u201cThe European leaders will come around. And they will understand that they need to be under the US security umbrella. What would happen in Ukraine if the US pulled its support out? The whole thing would collapse.\u201d<\/p>\n The issue of Greenland\u2019s future will continue to dominate the news agenda today, as the Europeans coordinate their next steps ahead of this week\u2019s extraordinary EU summit, expected on Thursday. UK prime minister Keir Starmer is also expected to wade in, with a special emergency press conference convened for this morning.<\/p>\n Later today, the Danish and Greenlandic ministers will also meet with Nato\u2019s secretary general Mark Rutte, who has been one of Trump\u2019s closest European partners.<\/p>\n But even being the extremely diplomatic (or sycophantic, if you ask his critics) and glass-half-full kind of person, the Dutchman couldn\u2019t strike a particularly positive tone after his Sunday night call with Trump, saying in a terse readout that he \u201cspoke with @POTUS regarding the security situation in Greenland and the Arctic. We will continue working on this, and I look forward to seeing him in Davos later this week.\u201d<\/p>\n And yet\u2026<\/p>\n Perhaps the most explosive revelation this morning comes from another direction, first reported by PBS journalist Nick Schifrin<\/a>, and later widely reported in Europe.<\/p>\n Over the weekend, Trump sent a letter to Norway\u2019s prime minister Jonas Gahr St\u00f8re telling him that \u201cconsidering your country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace.\u201d<\/p>\n (Norway doesn\u2019t decide the Nobel Peace Prize, mind you. It\u2019s an independent committee based in Oslo, not controlled by the Norwegian state.)<\/p>\n He added, magnanimously, \u201calthough [thinking about peace] will always be predominant, but [I] can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America.\u201d<\/p>\n Trump then doubled down on his threat against Denmark<\/a> over Greenland, saying:<\/p>\n \u201cDenmark cannot protect that land from Russia or China, and why do they have a \u2018right of ownership\u2019 anyway? There are no written documents, it\u2019s only that a boat landed there hundreds of years ago, but we had boats landing there, also. I have done more for Nato than any other person since its founding, and now, Nato should do something for the United States. The World is not secure unless we have Complete and Total Control of Greenland. Thank you! President DJT\u201d<\/p>\nJakub Krupa<\/p>\nJakub Krupa<\/p>\nJakub Krupa<\/p>\nJakub Krupa<\/p>\n![\"Keir](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/4982.jpg\")
Keir Starmer holds press conference as US threatens tariffs over Greenland \u2013 watch liveShare<\/a>Greenland’s dogsled federation welcomes withdrawal of invitation for US envoy to attend its annual race<\/p>\nJakub Krupa<\/p>\nJakub Krupa<\/p>\n