Greenland says it was disrespected by US, can't be bought by 'anyone,' suggests stronger China ties

Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said on Sunday that the U.S. has "not been respectful" in negotiations to acquire the island territory as a geopolitical stronghold, with other politicians from the island suggesting that Greenland wants to strengthen its ties with China, the world's second-largest economic superpower behind the United States. 

"The talks from the United States have not been respectful," he said, according to The Hill newspaper. "The words used have not been respectful. That’s why we need in this situation, we need to stand together."

Greenland is within the Kingdom of Denmark, where Nielsen made the comments.

Nielsen's comments followed those of Greenland's Foreign Minister, Vivian Motzfeldt, who visited China last month to strengthen cooperation between the two countries, according to the Chinese state news agency Xinhua.

He also said Greenland, the world's biggest island, "will never, ever be a piece of property that can be bought by just anyone."

President Donald Trump has suggested the U.S. buy Greenland, offering Greenlanders billions if the island were to become part of the U.S., and has not ruled out using military force to acquire the territory.  

Trump's son, Donald Trump Jr., and Vice President JD Vance also visited the island to pitch the idea of Greenland becoming a part of the U.S.

Nielsen, however, previously stated that the U.S. "will not get" Greenland because Greenlanders "do not belong to anyone else" and "decide their own future."