MOSCOW, Dec 23 (Bernama-Sputnik/RIA Novosti) -- US President-elect Donald Trump has called it "an absolute necessity" for the United States to own Greenland, thus commenting on his decision to appoint a new US ambassador to Denmark, reported Sputnik/RIA Novosti.
Greenland was a colony of Denmark until 1953. It remains part of the kingdom, but in 2009, it received autonomy with the ability to self-govern and make independent choices in domestic policy.
"For purposes of national security and freedom throughout the world, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity," Trump said on Truth Social.
The politician added that his nominee for the post of ambassador to Denmark, former US ambassador to Sweden and entrepreneur Ken Howery, "will do a wonderful job in representing the interests of the United States".
In 2019, a series of media reports appeared about Trump considering buying Greenland. Trump himself later confirmed to reporters that he was interested in the issue "strategically". At the same time, Greenland said that the island was not for sale, and Denmark expressed hope that Trump was joking, calling the very idea of sale absurd.
Former US Department of Homeland Security official Miles Taylor said in an interview with MSNBC in August 2020 that Trump was interested in whether Puerto Rico could be exchanged for Greenland.
-- BERNAMA-SPUTNIK/RIA NOVOSTI
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