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Ed Davey, leader of the United Kingdom’s Liberal Democrats, has likened US President Donald Trump’s plans to purchase Greenland to gangsterism.
Addressing Yvette Cooper, foreign secretary, in parliament on Tuesday, Davey called Trump the “most corrupt president the United States has ever seen”, expressing concern over a failed approach from the UK to address recent matters.
Trump has ramped up pressure on European allies to support him in his plans to purchase Greenland, an autonomous territory of NATO ally Denmark.
On Saturday, he announced plans to charge European countries, including the UK, a 10 percent tariff “on any and all goods” sent to the US from February 1, increasing to 25 percent from June 1, until a deal is reached over Greenland.
“The World is not secure unless we have Complete and Total Control of Greenland,” Trump told Norweigian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre in a letter, linking his ambition to the country’s “failure” to award him last year’s Nobel Peace Prize.
Greenland and Denmark have repeatedly asserted that the island is not for sale.
“President Trump is acting like an international gangster,” Davey said in parliament.
“He is threatening to trample over the sovereignty of an ally, threatening the end of NATO altogether, and now threatening to hit our country and seven European allies with outrageous damaging tariffs unless he gets his hands on Greenland.
“This is an incredibly grave moment for the United Kingdom, Europe, and our world.”
Davey criticised British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for “flattering” and “fawning over Trump”, an approach he said has led to “destruction”.
“It is time for the government to change course. We have to finally be clear eyed about the sort of man Trump is and treat him accordingly. He is a bully,” the party leader said.
Davey asked the UK to stand with European allies to force Trump to back down.
