LONDON, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Rasmus Jarlov, chair of the Danish Defence Committee, said on Sunday that any military confrontation over Greenland would be "the dumbest war in history."

Speaking in an interview with Sky News, Jarlov said U.S. President Donald Trump's ambition to seize Greenland represents "a contender for the most illegitimate land claim in modern history."

Jarlov also noted that neither Russia nor China has any activities in Greenland. "They don't have consulates. They don't have any mining activities. They don't own anything. They're simply not there."

Jarlov further stressed that "the Greenlanders have made it very, very, very clear that they do not want to become Americans and that they are not for sale."

Since taking office again in January 2025, Trump has repeatedly expressed interest in gaining control of Greenland, saying that he would not rule out using "military or economic coercion" to achieve that goal.

Greenland, a former Danish colony, became an integral part of the Kingdom of Denmark in 1953. It was granted home rule in 1979, expanding its autonomy, though Denmark retains authority over foreign affairs and defense. ■