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.

Greenland’s public broadcaster has been canvassing residents’ opinions on US President-elect Donald Trump’s pitch to buy the autonomous Danish territory – and some of their responses might raise some eyebrows.