UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations believes in the sanctity of the territorial integrity of its member states, and that is a position of principle the world body will continue to defend, a UN spokesperson said Tuesday.

The United Nations has noted with "concern" the rhetoric around Greenland, said Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN secretary-general, at a daily briefing, in response to a question on Greenland posed by Xinhua.

"But I can tell you that our position is one of principle and one that we will continue to defend, that the Secretary-General will continue to push both publicly and privately, and is that we believe in the sanctity of the territorial integrity of Member States," Dujarric said.

U.S. President Donald Trump said in a telephone interview on Sunday with The Atlantic that the United States "absolutely" needs Greenland "for defense."

Since taking office again in January 2025, Trump has repeatedly expressed interest in gaining control of Greenland, saying that he would not rule out using "military or economic coercion" to achieve that goal. ■