Stay calm on Greenland UK tells Trump and EU
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MUSIC
This is the Global News Podcast from the BBC World Service. I'm Valerie Sanderson at 1600 Hours GMT. On Monday the 19th of January, these are our main stories. The British Prime Minister Keir Starmer says President Trump's plan to impose tariffs on countries opposed to his goal to take over Greenland is completely wrong. At least 39 people have died in a train crash in Spain. Japan's Prime Minister calls a snap election. also in this podcast. I'm looking at the presence of three proteins that have been linked to Alzheimer's disease, so-called blood-based biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease. Could a simple finger prick blood test be the future for diagnosing Alzheimer's? There have been many tests for European leaders during the first year of Donald Trump's second term in the White House, but so far they've tried to manage, placate and charm the US president.
Now his aim of acquiring the semi-autonomous territory of Greenland, part of the Kingdom of Denmark, has alarmed politicians to such an extent they're pushing back. Some senior EU figures are openly accusing the US president of blackmail over Greenland. Here is Germany's finance minister Lars Klingbeil speaking alongside his French counterpart.
Germany and France agree that we will not allow ourselves to be blackmailed. There will be a united, clear response from Europe. And we are now preparing united countermeasures with our European partners. We are preparing for the event that President Trump maintains his tariff threat.
Washington insists there will be punishment in the form of trade tariffs from next month for any country that stands in the way of the president's ambition to acquire Greenland. President Macron of France wants the EU to fight back by deploying for the first time the EU's trade bazooka. We'll have more on that shortly. By contrast, Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called for a calm discussion between allies. In a speech at Downing Street, he reiterated the unified EU position, that the future of Greenland is for its people and Denmark to decide. And he criticised President Trump's threat on tariffs.
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.
Our political correspondent Rob Watson gave me his assessment.
It would be fair to say that amongst America's European allies, he is the leader of what might be described as the softly, softly approach, Valerie, that let's take it diplomatically, let's not turn the heat up any higher. But it is difficult domestically here in the UK because, of course, there are plenty of politicians and, of course, plenty of ordinary voters who think, come on, Zakir, tell Donald Trump what you really think, that this is all completely unethical. unacceptable. In other words, have a sort of love actually moment that film where the British Prime Minister takes it to a fictional American president that that isn't going to happen. And he repeated the argument he's made really ever since President Trump's inauguration, which is look, you know, whatever, however angry you might feel about stuff, the relationship between the US and the UK is so important for us in terms of our security and economics, you have to keep talking.
Yeah, but what happens if Mr. Trump isn't up for calm discussions?
But that is the great question, Valerie.
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Chapters
5 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:00–8:05
2
What is Keir Starmer's stance on Trump's Greenland tariffs?
8:05–10:31
3
Could a blood test be the future for diagnosing Alzheimer's?
10:31–13:34
4
How have European leaders responded to Trump's threats?
13:34–15:53
5
What are the implications of Trump's tariff threats for international relations?
15:53–27:06
Speakers
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