Extract from ABC News
Greenland's government says it does not want to be taken over by the US. (AP: Emilio Morenatti)
In short:
Greenland's government says it is opposed to a US takeover as the Trump administration's rhetoric intensifies.
Donald Trump says the US needs the island on national security grounds and will take possession of it "one way or the other".
Allies of Denmark have spoken out in support of Greenland and are instead offering to beef up Arctic security to deflect Mr Trump's interest.
Greenland's government says it will not accept a US takeover under "any circumstance", after Donald Trump said that the United States would take the territory "one way or the other".
The US president has repeatedly threatened to bring the island under American control, arguing that the Danish autonomous territory is crucial for national security.
NATO allies are now scrambling to discuss beefing up Arctic security in the hope it deflects Mr Trump away from his intensifying rhetoric towards the island territory.
"The United States has once again reiterated its desire to take over Greenland. This is something that the governing coalition in Greenland cannot accept under any circumstance," Greenland's government said in a statement released on Monday, local time.
On Sunday, Mr Trump warned that if the United States did not take Greenland, "Russia or China will, and I'm not letting that happen".
Donald Trump argues the US should take over Greenland to counter China and Russia. (AP: Nathan Howard)
The US leader said he would be open to making a deal with the Danish self-governing island, "but one way or the other, we're going to have Greenland."
Last week, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom issued a joint statement with Denmark to show their backing for Copenhagen and Greenland against Mr Trump.
"On the basis of the very positive declaration from the six NATO member states regarding Greenland, the Government of Greenland will intensify efforts to ensure that the defence of Greenland is carried out within NATO," Monday's statement said.
"Greenland will always be part of the Western defence alliance," the government added.
Denmark and other European allies have voiced shock at Mr Trump's threats over the strategic island, which has been home to a US military base since World War II.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said her country now faced a "decisive moment" in its diplomatic battle with the US over its Arctic territory.
She warned that if Washington followed through with an armed attack on Greenland that it would spell the end of NATO.
Why does Donald Trump want Greenland? (Michael Rowland, Courtney Bembridge)
A Danish colony until 1953, Greenland gained home rule 26 years later and is contemplating eventually loosening its ties with Denmark.
Polls show that Greenland's people strongly oppose a US takeover.
NATO members discuss Arctic security amid China, Russia threat
NATO chief Mark Rutte said Monday the alliance was working on ways to bolster Arctic security, as Europe scrambles to deflect Mr Trump's interest in taking over Greenland.
"Currently we are working on the next steps to make sure that indeed we collectively protect what is at stake," Rutte told journalists during a visit to Croatia.
Mr Trump has rocked the 32-nation alliance by refusing to rule out military force to seize the autonomous territory of fellow NATO member Denmark.
Polls indicate that Greenland's population strongly opposes a US takeover. (Reuters: Guglielmo Mangiapane)
The US leader has used a need to increase security in the Arctic region in the face of China and Russia as a key justification for why Washington needs to control the island.
"All allies agree on the importance of the Arctic and Arctic security, because we know that with sea lanes opening up there is a risk that the Russians and the Chinese will be more active," Mr Rutte said.
"Currently we are discussing the next step to that, how to make sure that we give practical follow up on those discussions," he said.
Diplomats at NATO say that some alliance members are floating ideas including possibly launching a new mission in the region.
But so far discussions are at an embryonic stage and there are no concrete proposals on the table, they say.
The foreign ministers of Denmark and Greenland are set to hold talks this week with US top diplomat Marco Rubio.
Mr Trump however has reacted by insisting he has made the alliance stronger by forcing European countries to up defence spending.
"I'm the one who SAVED NATO!!!" Mr Trump posted online.
AFP
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