Greenland should hold direct talks with the U.S. government without Denmark, a Greenlandic opposition leader told Reuters, as the Arctic island weighs how to respond to President Donald Trump's renewed push to bring it under U.

US President Donald Trump has stepped up his designs on taking over Denmark's autonomous territory Greenland, but questions abound about why he has taken an aggressive stance when the US already has extensive access to the Arctic island.

Björk has once again called for Greenland to declare its independence from Denmark as Donald Trump renews his threats to annex the island.The Icelandic singer shared an impassioned Instagram post Monday urging residents of the neighboring territory to break free from the Kingdom of Denmark like Iceland did in 1944.

The White House said it is considering a range of options to acquire the Arctic territory, including using the military.

Denmark’s rhetoric about Greenland is playing into President Donald Trump’s hands, a pro-independence lawmaker in the island has said.

The United States under President Donald Trump is once again eyeing Greenland, with reports suggesting the administration is considering offering direct cash payments to residents of the Arctic island to encourage a break from Denmark and closer alignment with Washington.

Still, coincidentally, the last foreign territory purchased by the United States was from Denmark. It bought the Virgin Islands in 1917 for $25 million. A few subsequent U.S. territorial expansions in the South Pacific were the result of annexations and treaties, according to the Global Policy Forum, a watchdog.

US officials, including White House aides, have discussed lump-sum payments ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 per person for Greenland’s roughly 57,000 residents.

Leaders from major European powers and Canada rallied behind Greenland on Tuesday, saying the Arctic island belongs to its people, following a renewed threat by U.S. President Donald Trump to take over the Danish territory.