Speaking at a NATO summit in Turkiye’s Ankara, Trump this week renewed his demand to gain ​control of Greenland, a semi-autonomous Danish territory, arguing it was important ​for US national security.

At the kayaking championships in Nuuk harbour, ⁠where competitors performed rolling manoeuvres in the water by flipping their ​kayaks upside down and back upright, spectators said Trump was focused on the ​island’s natural resources rather than the wishes of its people.

“He only thinks of commodities and oil,” said Frederik Larsen, 72, a pensioner born in Greenland. “I think we can manage ​without him.”

Public school teacher Birgithe Geisler, 60, said Greenland belonged to ​Greenlanders.

“No one else should decide for us,” she said.

Hans David Ezekiassen, an instructor at the ‌Greenland ⁠Maritime Center, was more blunt.

“I think it’s shit, to put it mildly,” he said.

“He can’t even control his own country, so why must he try to take over other countries?”

Andy Thon, 49, an engineer and member of ​Qajaq USA participating ​in the championships, ⁠said Greenland was already on a path towards greater autonomy with Denmark.

“With Denmark, they’re making their way towards ​full autonomy and the US wouldn’t need Greenland as a ​strategic ⁠point if the US was playing nicely with our allies,” he said.

Trump’s remarks drew fresh pushback from Danish and Greenlandic leaders. Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said ⁠on ​Wednesday that repeated calls to take over the ​island did not change the fact that Greenland is not for sale.