Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen of Denmark said on Wednesday that the country would defend \u201cevery inch\u201d of its territory and reiterated that Greenland was not for sale after President Trump again said that the United States should have control over the island.<\/p>\n
Ms. Frederiksen once again pushed back against the idea, telling reporters<\/a> at the NATO summit in Turkey that Greenland, a semi-autonomous Danish territory, was not for sale. When asked how she would respond if the island were attacked, she said, \u201cWe will defend the kingdom of Denmark,\u201d adding, \u201cWe are ready to defend every inch of NATO, including our own territory.\u201d<\/p>\n Mr. Trump on Wednesday expressed frustration with NATO over the issue. \u201cGreenland is a big problem for us,\u201d he said. \u201cWe need it for protection of the world, not just the United States, and it\u2019s very important. It doesn\u2019t help Denmark.\u201d<\/p>\n In January, Mr. Trump suggested that he could use military force<\/a> to take control of the island. In response, Denmark developed plans to blow up airfields<\/a> in Greenland in the event of an American invasion, and Ms. Frederiksen openly wondered<\/a> how long the United States would remain an ally.<\/p>\n In recent months, Mr. Trump has backed off<\/a> his most serious threats, with Washington turning to negotiations to press for more influence \u2014 including pushing Denmark for access to three more military bases<\/a> there, demanding effective veto power<\/a> over any major investment deals and opening a bigger consulate<\/a> in Nuuk, the island\u2019s capital.<\/p>\n