Since his first term, President-elect Donald Trump has insisted that the United States should purchase Greenland — to the bewilderment of aides asked to investigate such a possibility, and despite repeated denials by top officials in Greenland and Denmark, of which the island is an autonomous territory, that it would ever be for sale at any price.

Denmark announced a major new package to boost the security of Greenland in a move the Danish defense minister called “ironic” because it came just two days after President-elect Trump

"It is ironic that it coincides with the announcement from the United States," the Danish defense minister said.