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.S. President-elect Donald Trump refused to rule out force to take control of the Arctic island.

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.

Before President-elect Donald Trump’s latest remarks, King Frederik X signaled his commitment to the territory in a decidedly old-fashioned way.

By Stine Jacobsen and Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen 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.

The first time Donald Trump offered to buy Greenland in 2019, Danish politicians were apoplectic, branding him and his proposal a joke. This time around, after the US-president elect renewed his interest in controlling the geopolitically crucial Arctic island, the government in Copenhagen has been much more circumspect.

During a press conference, the president-elect of the United States did not rule out the use of force to seize the autonomous territory. His remarks have sparked strong reactions within the Scandinavian kingdom,

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

Donald Trump has reiterated his interest in buying Greenland, threatening to levy tariffs on Denmark and not ruling out military force to acquire the island. Greenland is a self-ruling Arctic territory that is part of Denmark,