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.

European leaders reacted to Trump's statement at a press conference on Tuesday that he would not rule out military action to take control of Greenland. He had earlier vowed to slap high tariffs on Denmark if it refused to cede its autonomous territory.