The prime minister of Greenland said Friday that the people of his mineral-rich Arctic territory do not want to be Americans, but he said he understood the U.S. interest in the island given its strategic location and he is open to greater cooperation with the United States.

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.

Trump has expressed renewed interest in the U.S. taking control of Greenland, going so far as to refusing to rule out military intervention.