Denmark's prime minister has warned her country is "significantly" increasing its military force amid threats from Donald Trump to take control of Greenland.
The US President reasserted last week that America needs Greenland for national security and said newly appointed special envoy, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, would "lead the charge".
He told reporters: "We need Greenland for national security, not for minerals.
"...If you take a look at Greenland, you look up and down the coast, you have Russian and Chinese ships all over the place."
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Greenland, a former colony of Denmark, was granted broad self-governing autonomy in 2009, including the right to declare independence from Denmark through a referendum.
The US military maintains a permanent presence at the Pituffik air base in Greenland's northwest following an agreement between America and Denmark in 1951.
In a New Year's Day speech, Danish PM Mette Frederiksen made reference to "conflict over Greenland", later adding that her country would "stand firm on what is right and wrong".
According to local media, she said: "In the past year, we have had to pay attention to a lot.
Prime Minister Frederiksen made reference to 'conflict over Greenland' in a New Years Day speech
|MADS CLAUS RASMUSSEN/GETTY
"Threats. Pressure. Derogatory language. From our closest ally for a lifetime.
"About wanting to take over another country, another people. As if it were something you could buy and own. It doesn't belong anywhere."
Ms Frederiksen added that her country was in "full swing" strengthening its defence.
"Never before have we increased our military strength so significantly. So quickly," she added.
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President Trump said the US needs Greenland for 'national security'
|REUTERS
President Trump previously offered to buy Greenland during his first presidential term, which Ms Frederiksen labelled "absurd".
The Danish leader and Greenland's Prime Minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, said in a joint statement last week that Greenland belongs to Greenlanders.
"You cannot annex another country. Not even with an argument about international security," they said.
Danish foreign minister, Lars Lokke Rasmussen, meanwhile summoned the US ambassador over the appointment of special envoy Mr Landry.
Afterwards, Mr Rasmussen said Denmark and Greenland's representative had "drawn a red line" with the ambassador.
Greenland's strategic location and resources could serve to benefit the US, as it lies along the shortest route from Europe to North America, vital for the US ballistic missile warning system.
More broadly the Arctic is becoming increasingly militarised with Nato states, China and Russia all expanding activity there.
The island, whose capital Nuuk is closer to New York than the Danish capital Copenhagen, boasts mineral, oil and natural gas wealth, but development has been slow and mining has seen very limited US investment.
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