Denmark acknowledged Thursday that it had long neglected the defense of Greenland, a vast and strategically important Arctic island - and one that U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has called vital for U.S. security.

By Stine Jacobsen and Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen COPENHAGEN (Reuters) -Greenland may become independent if its residents want, but it won't become a U.S. state, Denmark's foreign minister said on Wednesday after U.

Greenland may become independent if its residents want, but is unlikely to become a U.S. state, Denmark's foreign minister said.