U.S. President-elect Donald Trump stated that Denmark should relinquish Greenland in favor of the United States, as this is essential for protecting Washington's national interests and the "free world."
"People don't even know if Denmark has legitimate rights to Greenland, but if they do, Denmark should give them up because we need Greenland for our national security steps, to protect the free world," - he stated at a press conference on Tuesday.
Trump added that Russian and Chinese ships are constantly circling around the island, and to see them from the shore, "even a pair of binoculars isn't necessary."
The President-elect also threatened Denmark with a trade war and did not rule out the possibility of using military force to gain control over Greenland and the Panama Canal, while regarding the prospect of making Canada the 51st state of the U.S., Trump noted that it only concerns economic measures.
Previously, the President-elect had already expressed intentions to make Greenland a part of the U.S. Earlier on Tuesday, Donald Trump Jr. and representatives of his father arrived on the island.