BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Denmark's sovereignty is an "essential issue" for the EU, the European Council President said in an interview on Wednesday, as U.S. President Donald Trump continues to express interest in claiming Greenland for the United States. The Arctic island is a semi-autonomous Danish territory.

In an exclusive interview with Euronews on Wednesday, European Council President António Costa said the territorial integrity of Denmark is an "essential issue" for the European Union. View on euronew

"The United States will defend its interests, and Europe will defend its own interests – that is part of international relations," António Costa, the president of the European Council, told Euronews in an exclusive wide-ranging interview.

The Danes have not asked for it, but the Dutch Cabinet still wants to “express solidarity with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen,” said Caspar Veldkamp (Foreign Affairs) in a parliamentary debate on the upcoming EU formal summit.

EU politicians have threatened to deploy European troops to Greenland and refused to negotiate with Trump over his plans to buy the island. Denmark has announced a multi-billion dollar boost to

The US President Donald Trump has been issued with a stern warning that the EU is “ready to defend” Greenland. President Trump believes that the US is “going to have it” and has not ruled out taking Greenland by military force.

Following a "fiery" call between the 47th President and the Danish leader, prior to the January 20 inauguration ceremony in Washington, Mr Trump has doubled down on his desire to claim Greenland for the US. "I think we're going to have it," Trump said over the last weekend.

The Danish PM's tour of three capitals betrayed the nervousness felt in Denmark over Trump's repeated comments.

The EU and Nato have taken a vow of silence over Greenland after Denmark requested its key allies refrain from reacting to Donald Trump’s threats to seize the Arctic island.

Greenland should consider rejoining the European Union for “protection” in the face of U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats to acquire the Arctic island, Danish MEP Morten Løkkegaard said Wednesday. While Løkkegaard said Greenland’s future was ultimately for Greenlanders to decide, he argued it was time for “some kind of new thinking.”

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Monday that Europe is “not negotiating” with the United States over control of Greenland, as President Trump continues to insist that acquiring