Pedersen, Louise Rasmussen and Stine Jacobsen COPENHAGEN (Reuters) -Denmark acknowledged on Thursday it had long neglected the defence of Greenland, a vast and strategically important Arctic island, after President-elect Donald Trump said acquiring the Danish sovereign territory was vital for U.

Copenhagen has been deliberating over how to respond to statements by US President-elect Donald Trump about his desire to annex Greenland, amid indications that these remarks are not merely jokes. Danish officials have reportedly received signals from Trump's advisors and allies suggesting that he is serious about his plans.

I think we can all do ourselves a favor and turn down the pulse a little bit,” said Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen.

By Stine Jacobsen and Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen COPENHAGEN (Reuters) -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.

Greenland is crucial for the U.S. military and its ballistic missile early-warning system, since the shortest route from Europe to North America runs via the island.

It’s been a while since Denmark has been the object of Donald Trump’s enduring obsession with Greenland and needing to remind the returning president repeatedly that the world’s largest island isn’t for sale.

Denmark has made it clear that Greenland is not for sale after Donald Trump Jr. landed on the island Tuesday. According to The Hill, Trump Jr. was visiting the island to get footage for a podcast, and was joined by conservative pundit Charlie Kirk and Sergio Gor,