WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump told Nato Secretary-General Mark Rutte on March 13 that US control of Greenland is necessary to enhance international security, escalating his campaign to annex the strategic Arctic island.

“You know, Mark, we need that for international security, not just security - international - we have a lot of our favorite players cruising around the coast, and we have to be careful,” Mr Trump told Mr Rutte as they sat side-by-side in the White House Oval Office for talks.

“We’ll be talking to you.”

Asked directly about the prospect of annexation, Mr Trump said: “I think that will happen.”

Mr Trump has made the US annexation of Greenland a major talking point since he took office on Jan 20.

His comments on March 13 suggested he might want Nato involved in his attempt to take over the island, a semi-autonomous Danish territory.

The comments drew a swift rejection from the outgoing prime minister of Greenland.

“The US president has once again aired the thought of annexing us,” Mr Mute Egede said in a Facebook post. “Enough is enough.”

Nato and Denmark’s embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Opinion polls suggest that most Greenlanders oppose joining the US, although a majority favour eventual independence from Denmark.

Greenland’s pro-business opposition Demokraatit party, which wants a slow approach to independence from Denmark, won a March 11 parliamentary election. On March 13, Mr Trump said that election was good for the United States.

Even before starting his second term as president, Mr Trump said he hoped to make Greenland a part of the United States, even though Nato ally Denmark says it is not for sale.

Greenland’s strategic location and rich mineral resources could benefit the US. It lies along the shortest route from Europe to North America, vital for the US ballistic missile warning system.

Mr Trump has managed to annoy Canadians with his proposal the country become the 51st US state. He also demands the US exert more influence over the Panama canal.

Mr Rutte told Mr Trump that he would leave the question of Greenland’s future to others and that, “I don’t...