Greenland has again said it is not for sale after US President-elect Donald Trump said he wants to take control of the territory.
“Greenland belongs to the people of Greenland,” its prime minister said Monday, a day after Trump repeated comments about the Arctic island he first made several years ago.
Greenland, which is an autonomous Danish territory, is home to a major US space facility and lies on the shortest route from the US to Europe, meaning it is strategically important to America.
There was no immediate response to Trump's comments from Denmark.
Writing on his social media platform Truth Social on Sunday, the US president-elect said: “For the purposes of national security and freedom around the world, the United States of America considers ownership and control of Greenland to be an absolute necessity. “
His comments drew a sharp rebuke from Greenland Prime Minister Mute Egede, who said: “We are not for sale and we will not be for sale.”
“We must not lose our long struggle for freedom. However, we must continue to be open to cooperation and trade with the whole world, especially with our neighbors,” he said.
Trump's controversial remarks came hours after he announced his intention to nominate Ken Howery, his former ambassador to Sweden, as the new ambassador to Denmark.
Mr Howery said he was “deeply humbled” by the nomination and looked forward to working with staff at the US Embassy in Copenhagen and the US Consulate in Greenland to “deepen the ties between our countries”.
Trump's initial proposal in 2019 The U.S. acquisition of Greenland, the world's largest island, drew similarly sharp rebuke from leaders there.
Then-Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksson, who still holds the role, described the idea as “absurd,” prompting Trump to canceled a state trip to the country.
He is not the first American president to propose buying Greenland. The idea was first discussed in 1860. under the presidency of Andrew Johnson.
Separately on Sunday, Donald Trump threatens to regain control of the Panama Canalone of the world's most important waterways – accusing Panama of charging exorbitant fees to access it.
Panama's president later said that “every square meter” of the canal and its surroundings belonged to his country.