Danish PM calls on US to stop 'threatening' Greenland

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen called on the United States to stop "threatening its historical ally" following President Donald Trump's statements that he "absolutely" needed Greenland.

"I have to say this very clearly to the United States: it is absolutely absurd to say that the United States should take control of Greenland," the Danish leader said in a statement, following Mr Trump reiterating his remark that the United States should annex the Danish autonomous territory.

President Trump ⁠repeated his wish to take over Greenland in an interview with The Atlantic magazine.

"It makes absolutely no sense to talk about the US needing to take over Greenland. The US has no right to ‍annex any of the three countries in the Danish Kingdom," Ms Frederiksen said.

Mr Trump told the magazine "We do need Greenland, absolutely. We need it for defence."

He spoke a day after the US captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and the president said the US would run the Latin American country.

This raised concerns in Denmark that the same could happen with Greenland, a Danish territory.

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"I would therefore strongly urge the US stop the threats against a historically close ally and against another country and another people, who have very clearly said that they ⁠are not for sale," Ms Frederiksen said.

The Greenlandic prime minister's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside regular office ⁠hours.

Mr Trump named Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as special envoy to Greenland in December, drawing renewed criticism from Denmark and Greenland ⁠over ‍the United States interest in ⁠the mineral-rich Arctic island.

Mr Trump has advocated for Greenland, a self-governing Danish territory, to become part of the United States and Mr Landry publicly supports ‍the idea.

The Arctic island's strategic position between Europe and North America makes ⁠it a key site for the US ballistic missile defence system, while its mineral wealth is attractive as the US hopes to reduce its reliance on Chinese exports.

Greenland, a former Danish colony, has the right to declare independence under a 2009 agreement but depends heavily ‍on Danish subsidies.

Denmark has sought to repair strained ties with Greenland over the past year, while also trying to ease tensions with the Trump administration ⁠by investing in Arctic defence.