British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Monday (January 19) that he does not believe U.S. President Donald Trump was considering military action on Greenland.

Starmer made the comment in response to a journalist's question at an emergency press conference in London.

Trump threatened tariffs on eight countries that sent small numbers of military personnel to Greenland last week after Trump repeatedly said that he wanted to take over Denmark's vast Arctic island.

Starmer's suggestion that Britain would not retaliate against U.S. tariffs contrasts with the response of the European Union, where officials have discussed options to respond, including a package of tariffs on 93 billion euros ($107.7 billion) of U.S. imports.

Starmer said the threats risked causing a "downward spiral" for Britain, in terms of trade and the weakening of alliances.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

1. (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITISH PRIME MINISTER, KEIR STARMER, SAYING:

(REPORTER OFF-CAMERA: "Do you think Donald Trump is genuinely considering military action?")

"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."

2. WHITE FLASH

3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITISH PRIME MINISTER, KEIR STARMER, SAYING:

"I have argued and this is not an argument for the first time today, and I've spoken to European allies and leaders, about the need for Europe to step up and do more in its own defence and security. I feel that, over many years, we've not paid enough attention to what we European nations can and should do in our own defence, and this reinforces why it's important that we do that in defence and security - and defence and security these days, of course, includes energy and resilience and cyber, as well as the traditional defence and security. Europe has to step up into that space. And that's an argument I've been leading on and making for a number of months now with our European partners and will continue to do so."

4. WHITE FLASH

5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITISH PRIME MINISTER, KEIR STARMER, SAYING:

"We do have to remember at all times that it is in our national interest that we continue to work with the Americans when it comes to defence, to security, and to intelligence. Our nuclear deterrent is our foremost weapon and deterrent when it comes to securing the safety of everybody in the United Kingdom. It's my primary duty and that requires us to have a good relationship with the United States."

6. WHITE FLASH

7. STARMER LEAVING PRESS CONFERENCE