Greenland's prime minister has said his people would choose Denmark over the US if they were asked to make such a choice 'here and now'.
Jens-Frederik Nielsen's remark at a joint news conference with Denmark's prime minister is the strongest by a representative of the semi-autonomous Danish territory since US President Donald Trump renewed his plan to annex it.
Trump says the US needs to 'own' Greenland to defend against Russia and China. The White House has suggested buying the island, but not ruled out the use of force to annex it.
Denmark is a fellow NATO member, and Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has warned that military force would spell the end of the trans-Atlantic defense alliance.
Despite being the most sparsely populated territory, Greenland's location between North America and the Arctic makes it well placed for early warning systems in the event of missile attacks and for monitoring vessels in the region.
Trump has repeatedly said that Greenland is vital to US national security, claiming without evidence that it was 'covered with Russian and Chinese ships all over the place'.
The US already has more than 100 military personnel permanently stationed at its Pituffik base in Greenland's northwestern tip - a facility that has been operated by the US since World War Two.
Stressing they were as keen as the US on Arctic security, Denmark's NATO allies, including major European nations and Canada, have voiced their support for Danish sovereignty, stating that only Denmark and Greenland can decide on their relations with the US.
Frederiksen condemned the 'completely unacceptable pressure from our closest ally' and emphasized that Greenland does not want to be owned or governed by the US.
As tensions rise, Nielsen's statement clarified Greenland's position: 'If we have to choose between the United States and Denmark here and now, we choose Denmark.'
The geopolitical crisis surrounding Greenland's future continues as the island's leaders prepare for an upcoming meeting with US officials.
