Washington, March 13 -- US President Donald Trump has expressed confidence that the United States would annex Greenland, emphasizing that North Atlantic Treaty Alliance (NATO) Secretary General Mark Rutte could play a key role in facilitating the acquisition.

Speaking to reporters during a meeting with Rutte at the White House on Thursday (local time), Trump said the US needs Greenland for "international security" and hinted at future discussions on the matter.

"Well, I think it'll happen. And I'm just thinking, I didn't give it much thought before, but I'm sitting with a man that could be very instrumental. You know, Mark, we need that for international security, not just security, international. We have a lot of our favourite players,...