The Danish foreign minister expressed openness to working more closely with the U.S. to ensure its interests in the region are addressed after President-elect Donald Trump said he wants to buy the Danish territory of Greenland—but the foreign minister continued to cast doubt on Trump’s idea to acquire the island,

The story goes that Trump and Frederiksen spoke on the phone last week for about 45 minutes in what was expected to be a bit of a feeling-out between the two parties, given Trump’s very public declaration that he would like to take Greenland off Denmark’s hands.

Yet, just as his counterparts did in the past, Trump may find that "buying the Arctic" is not as straightforward as he thinks. In 1865, in the wake of the Civil War, the U.S. began looking to expand its influence on the world stage.

Donald Trump had a phone conversation with the Prime Minister of Denmark, Mette Frederiksen. The conversation was about, among other things, Greenland, which is governed by Denmark. According to the "Financial Times,

Donald Trump had a phone conversation with the Prime Minister of Denmark, Mette Frederiksen. The conversation was about, among other things, Greenland, which is controlled by Denmark. According to the "Financial Times,