Greenland may become independent if its residents want, but is unlikely to become a U.S. state, Denmark's foreign minister said on Wednesday after U.S. President-elect Donald Trump refused to rule out force to take control of the Arctic island.

Greenland’s prime minister has reiterated his call for independence from Denmark after Donald Trump suggested the US could acquire the Arctic territory.

Donald Trump has reiterated his interest in buying Greenland, threatening to levy tariffs on Denmark and not ruling out military force to acquire the island. Greenland is a self-ruling Arctic territory that is part of Denmark,

Greenland’s Prime Minister Mute B. Egede called on his people to stand united amid a renewed push for independence and recent interest from US President-elect Donald Trump in the Arctic island.

Though the president-elect's rhetoric is unusual, for over a century a succession of US presidents have tried to gain control of Greenland.