Last summer shattered all records with 586 billion tons (532 billion metric tons) of ice melting,

"With no polar ice, there will not be polar bears," said Brandon Laforest, a senior specialist of Arctic species at WWF Canada.

Experts say establishing a greater U.S. presence in Greenland is not unwarranted.

Several countries, including China and Russia, have a vested interest in Greenland.

Lars Loekke Rasmussen's comment is the latest in an escalating spat between the U.S. and Denmark after Trump scrapped a visit to the country.

Denmark's prime minister said the United States still remains one of their closest allies.

U.S. President Donald Trump said he has postponed a meeting with Danish Prime Minister Mette Fredricksen due to her lack of interest in his offer to purchase Greenland.

New York University air and ocean scientist David Holland, who is tracking what’s happening in Greenland from both above and below, calls it “the end of the planet.”

Officials in Greenland have said it's not for sale and Trump allowed Sunday that it's not a priority of his administration.

There has been no indication that a Greenland purchase will be on the agenda for Trump's talks with Danish officials.