The prime minister of the Greenland says the people of his mineral-rich Arctic territory don't want to be Americans but that he's open to greater cooperation with the United States.

Greenland Prime Minister Mute Egede said on Friday he was ready to speak with US President-elect Donald Trump, who has said he wants control over the Arctic island, and urged respect for the island’s independence aspirations.

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump says he wants to make Greenland a part of the United States and does not rule out using military or economic power to get Denmark to hand it over.

Donald Trump’s obsession with Greenland has put the world’s largest island in an unexpected position of power.

Pituffik Space Base, located in the far north of Greenland since the end of the second world war, is home to 200 US military personnel and 450 other forces and contractors from allies, part of Washington’s missile early warning system as well as offering space surveillance and satellite command.

Greenland's leader said on Friday he had not been in contact with incoming U.S. president Donald Trump, who has said he wants control over the Arctic island, and urged everyone to respect Greenland's wish for independence.

Donald Trump wants the United States to buy Greenland for its strategically vital resources, to bolster US security and give China a bloody nose.

Greenland's Prime Minister Mute Egede has expressed readiness to negotiate with Donald Trump. This comes shortly after the future US leader's statement about his desire to control the island, Reuters reports.