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

As US President-elect Donald Trump has said it’s a must for US national security interests to buy Greenland, the island’s premier, Mute Egede, has pushed for its independence from Denmark

Greenland's Prime Minister Mute Egede emphasised his desire to pursue independence from Denmark, its former colonial ruler, during his New Year speech, marking a significant change in the rhetoric surrounding the Arctic island's future.

The self-governing Danish territory has been in the spotlight since US President-elect Donald Trump reiterated his wish to buy the island. View on euronews

Greenland on Monday stressed that it was not for sale, after Donald Trump again suggested he wanted the United States to take control of the strategic island that holds major mineral and oil reserves.

Greenland is not for sale, its elected leader said on Monday, responding to comments made by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump regarding the "ownership and control" of the vast Arctic island that has been part of Denmark for over 600 years.

The Danish government has announced a huge boost in defense spending for Greenland, hours after US President-elect Donald Trump repeated his desire to purchase the Arctic territory. Danish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said the package was a "double-digit billion amount" in krone, or at least $1.5bn (£1.2bn).

COPENHAGEN - Greenland Prime Minister Mute Egede has emphasised his desire to pursue independence from Denmark, its former colonial ruler, marking a significant change in the rhetoric surrounding the Arctic island’s future.

During his New Year's speech, the Prime Minister of Greenland, Múte Egede, expressed his desire for independence from Denmark. He stated that he wants the island to determine its own future, Reuters reports.