Greenland is looking to strengthen its defence and mining ties with the US, its prime minister has said.

It comes after president-elect Donald Trump repeated an idea of acquiring the strategically important and mineral-rich Arctic island which he said was an “absolute necessity”.

Mute Egede said his government was looking for ways to cooperate with the US and that it was ready to start a dialogue with Mr Trump’s incoming administration.

However, he said it would be up to it to decide how it should proceed.

When asked at a news conference in the capital Nuuk on Monday about expanding US military capabilities on the island, Mr Egede said: “Greenland’s independence is Greenland’s business, also in relation to the use of its land.

“So it is also Greenland that will decide what agreement we should come to.”

The prime minister has summoned the leaders of Greenland’s political parties to a meeting to discuss a collective approach to the US interest.

“This is the first time Greenland has been listened to in an intense way,” he added.

“We need to be calm and take advantage of things and stand together.”

Mr Trump did not rule out the potential use of military or economic means to gain control of Greenland.

But vice president-elect JD Vance dismissed the use of military force in an interview with Fox News.