Greenland may become independent if its residents want, but it won't become a U.S. state, Denmark's foreign minister said after U.S. President-elect Donald Trump refused to rule out force to take control of the Arctic island.

President-elect Donald Trump has set his sights on a vast, ice-covered and sparsely populated island with a strategic location on the edge of the Arctic—and a whole lot of mineral riches. At more than three times the size of Texas,

Greenland's prime minister gave a speech telling Denmark to gain more independence as Trump called for the U.S. to purchase the island.