Johnson Vows Unbroken US-UK Alliance Despite Greenland Trade Tensions

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said on Tuesday he was confident that Britain and the United States maintain their so-called “special relationship” and work through differences over Greenland, an issue threatening to upend bilateral ties.

Johnson’s visit to mark the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence from rule by London occurs at a strained time for trans-Atlantic relations, days after President Donald Trump threatened Britain and other European countries with tariffs unless they allowed the United States to purchase Greenland.

Trump has also sharply criticized Prime Minister Keir Starmer over a deal to cede sovereignty of the island of Diego Garcia in the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, an apparent reversal of the administration’s previous support for the agreement.

“We’ve always been able to work through our differences calmly as friends. We will continue to do that,” Johnson said in an address to lawmakers in the British parliament.

Johnson stated he met Starmer on Monday and praised the prime minister for striking “the right message and the right tone” in a statement urging calm discussions to resolve Greenland disputes and avoid a trade war, while highlighting the partnership between the two nations.

Starmer has previously commended his close relationship with Trump and secured a deal to avert some sectoral tariffs last May. However, recent events threaten to undermine his strategy toward Washington.

Johnson added that he spoke with Trump the previous day and emphasized his aim to use the trip to “encourage our friends to help calm the waters, so to speak.”

“Let us look to agreement, continue our dialogue and find a resolution, just as we have always done in the past,” Johnson said.

“And in that process, I am confident that we can and will maintain and strengthen our special relationship between these two nations.”