French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot insisted that Greenland "is not for sale, and criticised the US for its intentions to take control of the strategic Arctic territory during a visit Sunday to its capital, Nuuk.

Barrot spoke in a news conference following a working meeting with Greenland's prime minister and foreign minister.

"Greenland is not for sale," he said, echoing French President Emmanuel Macron's similar comments during a June visit to the vast, semi-autonomous territory of Denmark.