Greenland’s elected leader firmly stated on Monday that the territory is not for sale, in response to remarks made by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump concerning the “ownership and control” of the Arctic island, which has been under Danish sovereignty for over 600 years.

“Greenland belongs to us. We are not for sale and will never be for sale. We must not abandon our long-standing fight for freedom,” asserted Prime Minister Mute Egede in a written statement.

On Sunday, Trump announced his selection of Ken Howery, a former envoy to Sweden, as his ambassador to Denmark, while also commenting on Greenland’s status as a semi-autonomous region of Denmark that hosts a significant U.S. Air Force base. He stated on Truth Social, “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, who is set to take office on January 20, did not provide further details regarding his statement.

The Danish foreign ministry and the prime minister’s office were not immediately available for comment. Rasmus Jarlov, a member of parliament from the opposition Conservative Party, emphasized on the social media platform X that the Danish government must clearly assert that control over Greenland is not open for discussion or negotiation. “If U.S. activities aim to take control of Danish territory, it must be prohibited and countered. They should not be allowed there at all,” Jarlov, who leads the parliament’s defense committee, stated.

Greenland, with its capital Nuuk located closer to New York than to Copenhagen, is rich in minerals, oil, and natural gas. However, its economic development has been sluggish, resulting in a dependence on fishing and annual financial support from Denmark. The Pituffik air base enhances Greenland’s strategic significance for the U.S. military, particularly for its ballistic missile early-warning system, as it serves as the most direct route from Europe to North America.

During his previous presidency, Trump expressed a desire to purchase Greenland in 2019, but this proposal was swiftly rejected by both Denmark and Greenland’s local authorities before any formal negotiations could occur. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen described Trump’s offer as “absurd,” prompting him to label her response as “nasty” and ultimately cancel a planned visit to Copenhagen. Frederiksen continues to serve as Denmark’s prime minister.

Since 2009, Greenland has had the option to declare independence from Denmark. Despite having a population of approximately 56,000 and relying heavily on budget transfers from Copenhagen, the island has yet to take this step. In a separate incident on Sunday, Trump threatened to reassert U.S. control over the Panama Canal, accusing Panama of imposing excessive fees for passage, which elicited a strong response from Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino.