BRUSSELS: NATO chief Mark Rutte on Friday discussed efforts to bolster Arctic security with US top diplomat Marco Rubio, after President Donald Trump insisted he wants to take control of Greenland. The US leader has rattled allies by refusing to rule out using military force to take over the autonomous territory of fellow NATO member Denmark. Trump says controlling the mineral-rich island is crucial for US national security given the rising threat of Russia and China in the Arctic.

It came as European allies rallied behind Denmark after renewed US insistence it must have Greenland.

White House says using US military to secure arctic territory is ‘always an option’ as European leaders push back