COPENHAGEN (Reuters) -Greenland may become independent if its residents want, but it won't 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.

The prime minister of Greenland called on the country to strive for greater independence from its mother country, Denmark, in a New Year’s address delivered this week, in light of the controversy surrounding President-elect Donald Trump’s calls for the U.

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