President-elect Donald Trump is reiterating his interest in U.S. ownership of Greenland, prompting the island territory’s leader to clarify that it is not for sale.

When Trump announced his choice of PayPal co-founder Ken Howery as his ambassador to Denmark on Sunday, he wrote that American ownership of the island was an “absolute necessity.”

“For the purposes of national security and freedom around the world, the United States of America believes that possession and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity. “Ken will do an outstanding job representing the interests of the United States,” Trump wrote in a letter statement.

Greenland Prime Minister Mute Egede rejected the idea outright and released a statement on Facebook that, as translated, said: “Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and will never be for sale. “We must not lose our years-long fight for freedom.” However, we must remain open to cooperation and trade with the whole world, especially with our neighbors.”

Trump also expressed interest in purchasing Greenland during his first term.

Mette Frederiksen, the prime minister of Denmark, which has sovereignty over the self-governing island, dismissed the idea at the time as “absurd.”

Frederiksen was re-elected in 2022. The Danish Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement to ABC News: “The Danish government looks forward to welcoming the new American ambassador. And the government looks forward to working with the new government.”

“In a complex security policy situation such as the one we are currently experiencing, transatlantic cooperation is crucial,” the office said. “On the statements on Greenland, the Prime Minister’s Office has no comments other than reference to the Greenland Prime Minister’s statement that Greenland is not for sale but is open to cooperation.”

The first Trump administration allocated $12 million to Greenland for economic development, part of which was to support energy and natural resource development. During Trump’s previous presidency, the US also opened a consulate in Greenland for the first time in decades.

The U.S. also operates Pituffik Space Base, the Defense Department’s northernmost base, on the coast of Greenland.

Greenland is rich in valuable minerals, including rare earth metals, precious metals, gemstones, coal, graphite and uranium, but its geography and climate make commercially viable mining challenging, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Association. The ITA reported that its rare earth resources would be among the top five in the world if developed.

Former Trump administration officials noted that Greenland, the world’s largest island, was a key interest as China and Russia increased their activities in the Arctic.

Howery, who previously served as U.S. ambassador to Sweden during the first Trump administration, said he was “humbled” that Trump had named him the top U.S. diplomat in Greenland.

“Representing our great nation abroad is a great responsibility. “I know firsthand the power of diplomacy to advance American interests and strengthen alliances, and I am grateful for the opportunity to return to Europe to advance the President’s agenda,” Howery said in a statement on social media published.

Howery’s statement did not address the suggestion that American ownership of Greenland was an “absolute necessity.”

“I look forward to working with the dedicated teams at the U.S. Embassy Copenhagen and U.S. Consulate Nuuk in Greenland to deepen the bonds between our countries,” Howery said.