US President Donald Trump has said the United States must own Greenland, an autonomous part of the Kingdom of Denmark, to prevent Russia or China occupying the strategically located and minerals-rich territory in the future.
"All NATO member states, including the United States, have a common interest in the defence of Greenland," the island's coalition government said in a statement, adding that it can in no way accept a US takeover of Greenland.
"As part of the Danish commonwealth, Greenland is a member of NATO and the defence of Greenland must therefore be through NATO," the government said.
The European Union Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius said earlier on Monday that any US military takeover of Greenland would be the end of NATO.
Trump first floated the idea of a US takeover of Greenland in 2019 during his first term in office, although he faces opposition in the US, including from within his own party.
While Denmark has ruled Greenland for centuries, the territory has gradually been moving towards independence since 1979, a goal shared by all political parties elected to the island's parliament.
Greenland was a Danish colony until 1953 and is now largely autonomous, with Denmark remaining responsible for security and defence policy.
"We are a democratic society that makes our own decisions. And our actions are based on international law," Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen wrote on LinkedIn.
with DPA
