WASHINGTON, March 13 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he believes the United States would annex Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, during a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office, U.S. news outlets reported.

Trump expressed confidence the United States would annex the large island, even suggesting the head of the NATO alliance could be a key player in facilitating the acquisition, The Hill reported.

"I think it will happen," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office during the meeting, said the report.

In response, Rutte said that any discussion about Trump's attempts to acquire Greenland is outside of his purview and he doesn't want to drag NATO in that, the report stated.

Since early this year, Trump has repeatedly stated his desire to obtain Greenland, even suggesting the possibility of using force.

Greenland, the world's largest island with a population of around 60,000, was a Danish colony until 1953, when it became an integral part of Denmark with Greenlanders given Danish citizenship. In 1979, Greenland achieved home rule, gaining greater self-governance while Denmark retained authority over its foreign and defense policy. Enditem

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