Greenland's Prime Minister Mute Egede has said that his people did not want to join the United States, after President Donald Trump vowed to take over the Danish autonomous territory "one way or the other".
"We don't want to be Americans, or Danes either. We are Greenlanders. The Americans and their leader must understand that," Mr Egede wrote in a Facebook post six days ahead of Greenland's legislative elections.
"We are not for sale and can't just be taken. Our future is decided by us in Greenland."
Denmark's foreign minister said it was significant that Mr Trump had recognised Greenland's right to self-determination while reiterating an interest in acquiring the island in his address to Congress yesterday.
Opinion polls suggest that most Greenlanders oppose joining the US, although a majority favour eventual independence from Denmark, while the Danish government has said the Arctic island must decide its own future and is not for sale.
"(Trump) said (they) respect the right to Greenlandic self-determination, and that I think was the most important part of that speech," Danish foreign minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen told a press conference in Helsinki this morning.
He said Denmark and Greenland had a common interest with the United States with regards to security in the Arctic.
"We are ready to work with our American friends on achieving that, but of course it would be based on the fact that we have a Kingdom of Denmark," he added.
In his address to Congress, Mr Trump painted a picture of prosperity and safety for the people of Greenland.
"We will keep you safe, we will make you rich, and together, we will take Greenland to heights like you have never thought possible before," he said.
"It's a very small population, a very, very large piece of land, and very, very important for military security," he added.
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Even before starting his second term as president, Mr Trump said he hoped to make Greenland a part of the US.
Greenland's strategic location and rich mineral resources could benefit the US. It lies along the shortest route from Europe to North America, vital for the US ballistic missile warning system.
"We need it really for international world security," Mr Trump said.
In his speech, Mr Trump said he had a message for the people of Greenland. "We strongly support your right to determine your own future, and if you choose, we welcome you into the United States of America."
He said his administration was "working with everybody involved" to try to get Greenland, but also added, "I think we're going to get it, one way or the other, we're gonna get it," to laughter from his fellow Republicans in the House of Representatives chamber.
His interest in Greenland has invigorated that country's independence movement, sparking calls for swift secession discussions with Denmark, its former colonial ruler.
But Greenland's ruling Inuit Ataqatigiit party has said it will not rush an independence vote through after a 11 March general election, cautioning about possible economic and welfare implications.
