Denmark's PM urges Donald Trump to stop threats to take over Greenland

Denmark's leader has urged Donald Trump to stop threatening to take over Greenland after the US president reiterated his wish to do so in a new interview.

Mr Trump has long advocated for the mineral-rich island, a self-governing Danish territory, to become part of the United States.

Speaking a day after the US captured Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro, Mr Trump told The Atlantic: "We do need Greenland, absolutely. We need it for defence."

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In a statement issued on Sunday, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said: "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 continued: "I would therefore strongly urge the ‌US to 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."

Trump comments 'disrespectful'

Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen has also criticised Mr Trump's latest comments, labelling them "disrespectful".

He said in a statement: "When the President of the United States says ‍that 'we need Greenland' and links us to Venezuela and military intervention, it's not just wrong. It's disrespectful."

Mr Trump's latest comments came a day after he said Washington will temporarily "run" Venezuela following the detention of its hard-left president, which has heightened concerns that something similar could happen to Greenland.

After the raid, a former Trump administration official turned podcaster, Katie Miller, posted an illustrated map of Greenland in the colours of the US stars and stripes with the caption: "SOON."

Responding to Ms Miller, who is married to Mr Trump's influential deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, Danish ambassador to the US, Jesper Moller Sorensen, said: "And yes, we expect full respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark."

France also reiterated its support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Greenland and Denmark, with foreign ministry spokesperson Pascal Confavreux ‍telling TF1 TV: "It is solidarity with Denmark...Greenland belongs to Greenland's people ‌and to Denmark's people. It is up ‌to them to decide what they wish to do. Borders cannot be changed by force."

UK government minister Mike Tapp refused to say if it would be wrong for Mr Trump to invade Greenland during an interview on Sky News' Mornings with Ridge and Frost.

After dodging the question from Sophy Ridge three times, he said: "This isn't for me to sit here and talk about hypotheticals. We could go on forever."

Why is Trump interested in Greenland?

The president has long been interested in the US owning Greenland - and once suggested buying it in what would "essentially [be] a large real estate deal".

The Arctic island's strategic position between Europe and the US makes it a key site for a ballistic missile defence system.

Its mineral wealth is also attractive as the US hopes to reduce its reliance on Chinese exports.

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

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