Denmark and Greenland have requested a meeting with Marco Rubio, which one Danish lawmaker hopes will halt talk in D.C. "about wanting to acquire Greenland."

Pedersen, Soren Jeppesen and Stine Jacobsen COPENHAGEN, Jan 7 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump has renewed his ambition to take control of Greenland for national security reasons and questioned whether Denmark has any legal right to the Arctic island.

US President Donald Trump is considering making an offer to buy Greenland, the White House said Wednesday, despite the island's people and controlling power Denmark making clear they are not interested.

One Danish Member of the European Parliament warned the United States is on a path to have “very few friends in the world.”

Denmark and Greenland are seeking a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio after the Trump administration reiterated its intention to take Greenland.

Denmark’s rhetoric about Greenland is playing into President Donald Trump’s hands, a pro-independence lawmaker in the island has said.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Wednesday he will meet with Danish officials next week, but showed no signs Washington wants to back away from U.S. President Donald Trump's stated desire to gain control of Greenland.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen says an American takeover of Greenland would amount to the end of the NATO military alliance.

Tensions with NATO members escalated after the White House said Tuesday that the “US military is always an option.” Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warned earlier this week that a US takeover would amount to the end of NATO.

Analysts say the Cold War agreement allows the president to increase the American military presence almost at will.