LYNGBY, Denmark (AP) — New Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said Sunday that U.S. statements about the mineral-rich Arctic island have been disrespectful and that Greenland “will never, ever be a piece of property that can be bought by just anyone.”

Nielsen made the remarks in defiance of U.S. President Donald Trump’s interest in taking control of the strategic territory as Nielsen stood side by side with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on the second day of a three-day official visit. Greenland is a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark.

“The talks from the United States have not been respectful,” Nielsen said at a news conference at the prime minister’s Marienborg official residence in Lyngby, 12 kilometers (8 miles) north of Copenhagen.

“The words used have not been respectful. That’s why we need in this situation, we need to stand together,” he added.

Political parties in Greenland, which has been leaning toward eventual independence from Denmark for years, recently agreed to form a broad-based new coalition government in the face of Trump’s designs on the territory.

Greenland’s government said that Nielsen’s three-day visit, which began Saturday, was aimed at future cooperation between the two countries.

“Denmark has the will to invest in the Greenlandic society, and we don’t just have that for historical reasons. We also have that because we are part of (the Danish) commonwealth with each other,” said Frederiksen.

“We of course have a will to also continue investing in the Greenlandic society,” she added.

Nielsen is set to meet King Frederik X on Monday, before returning to Greenland with Frederik for a royal visit to the island.

Frederiksen and Nielsen were asked whether a meeting between them and Trump was being planned.

“We always want to meet with the American president,” Frederiksen said. “Of course we want to. But I think we have been very, very clear in what is the (Danish commonwealth’s) approach to all parts of the Kingdom of Denmark.”

NUUK, Greenland (AP) — The Danish foreign minister on Saturday scolded the Trump administration for its “tone” in criticizing Denmark and Greenland, saying his country is already investing more into Arctic security and remains open to more cooperation with the U.S.

Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, make the remarks in a video posted to social media after U.S. Vice President JD Vance’s visit to the strategic island.

“Many accusations and many allegations have been made. And of course we are open to criticism,” Rasmussen said speaking in English. “But let me be completely honest: we do not appreciate the tone in which it is being delivered. This is not how you speak to your close allies. And I still consider Denmark and the United States to be close allies.”

Vance on Friday said Denmark has “underinvested” in Greenland’s security and demanded that Denmark change its approach as President Donald Trump pushes to take over the Danish territory.

Vance visited U.S. troops on Pituffik Space Base on mineral-rich Greenland alongside his wife and other senior U.S. officials for a trip that was ultimately scaled back after an uproar among Greenlanders and Danes who were not consulted about the original itinerary.

“Our message to Denmark is very simple: You have not done a good job by the people of Greenland,” Vance said Friday. “You have underinvested in the people of Greenland, and you have underinvested in the security architecture of this incredible, beautiful landmass filled with incredible people. That has to change.”

Trump on Friday released a video on his social networking site Truth Social entitled “America Stands With Greenland,” showing footage of U.S. troops there during World War II.

In Greenland, Vance said the U.S. has “no option” but to take a significant position to ensure the security of the island as he encouraged a push in Greenland for independence from Denmark.

“I think that they ultimately will partner with the United States,” Vance said. “We could make them much more secure. We could do a lot more protection. And I think they’d fare a lot better economically as well.”

The reaction by members of Greenland’s parliament and residents has rendered that unlikely, with anger erupting over the Trump administration’s attempts to annex the vast Arctic island. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen pushed back on Vance’s claim that Denmark isn’t doing enough for defense in the Arctic, calling her country “a good and strong ally.”

And Greenlandic lawmakers on Thursday agreed to form a new government, banding together to resist Trump’s overtures. Four of the five parties elected to Greenland’s parliament earlier this month have agreed to form a coalition that will have 23 of 31 seats in the legislature.

The following day, Danish King Frederik X posted on Facebook: “We live in an altered reality. There should be no doubt that my love for Greenland and my connectedness to the people of Greenland are intact.”

Hundreds of protesters demonstrated Saturday outside the U.S. Embassy in the Danish capital Copenhagen with some lifting signs saying, “back off, USA” Danish broadcaster TV2 reported.

Even Greenland’s national dogsled race – Avannaata Qimussersu – which kicked off Saturday with some 37 mushers and 444 dogs was not left unaffected. Usha Vance, the vice president’s wife, who was originally scheduled to attend the race opted out when her husband decided to join the trip and visit the military base instead, reducing the likelihood that they would cross paths with Greenlanders.

Løkke Rasmussen, in his video, reminded viewers of the 1951 defense agreement between Denmark and the United States. Since 1945, the American military presence in Greenland has decreased from thousands of soldiers over 17 bases and installations on the island, he said, to the remote Pituffik Space Base in the northwest with some 200 soldiers today.

The 1951 agreement “offers ample opportunity for the United States to have a much stronger military presence in Greenland,” the foreign minister said. “If that is what you wish, then let us discuss it.”

Løkke Rasmussen added that Denmark has increased its own investment into Arctic defense. In January, Denmark announced 14.6 billion Danish kroner (US$2.1 billion) in financial commitments for Arctic security covering three new naval vessels, long-range drones and satellites.

Grieshaber reported from Berlin and Madhani from Washington. Associated Press writer Stefanie Dazio in Berlin contributed to this report.

As President-elect Donald Trump continues to voice his renewed interest in purchasing Greenland as a territory of the United States, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen shared a message for him: “Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders.”

“Greenland is not for sale,” Frederiksen said Tuesday on Danish television, according to the BBC and Politico EU.

Her comments landed the same day Donald Trump Jr. arrived on the Arctic island in the family’s branded jet for a brief, private visit. On social media, the president-elect referred to his eldest son, and those accompanying him, as his representatives.

Frederiksen’s comments echoed those made by Greenlandic Prime Minister Mute Egede after Donald Trump revived his 2019 idea to buy the land in a statement announcing his pick for ambassador to Denmark.

“Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and will never be for sale. We must not lose our long struggle for freedom,” Egede said last month.

The frigid island has been a territory of Denmark for hundreds of years, gaining rights to home rule in the 20th century.

Trump said in December that “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.”

He refused to rule out using military force to take control of the island during a lengthy, rambling press conference Tuesday.

An independence movement in Greenland has led to greater degrees of autonomy over the past several decades for residents, who are primarily Inuit. Egede reportedly hinted last week that a referendum on independence from Denmark could be held as early as April of this year.

Trump’s interest in Greenland stems from its mineral-rich deposits and strategic position between the U.S., Russia and China. The U.S. already operates a military base on the island to detect missiles headed for North America. Melting sea ice may also open up new routes for international trade as the climate crisis worsens.

Frederiksen noted that while selling off the territory may be a non-starter, U.S. investment in Greenland is more than welcome.

“We have a clear interest that it’s the U.S. that plays a large role in that region, and not, for example, Russia,” she said, according to Bloomberg.

Trump Jr. shared scenes from his visit on Instagram.

“This is the founder,” he said, pointing to a statue of Hans Egede, an 18th-century missionary who established the capital city of Nuuk. “Just incredible scenery. Super cool stuff.”

In another video, right-wing activist Charlie Kirk holds the camera as he pans to show Trump Jr. and a cadre of young men.

“They love America. They love Trump. They want to utilize their resources,” Trump Jr. said of the people he apparently met, speaking onboard the family jet before takeoff.