India, Jan. 10 -- President Donald Trump has said the United States needs toown" Greenland to stop Russia and China from gaining control over it. He made this clear while answering questions from reporters.

Explaining his position, Trump said, "Countries have to have ownership and you defend ownership, you don't defend leases. And we'll have to defend Greenland." He added that the US could do this "the easy way" or "the hard way."

The White House has already said it is looking at the option of buying Greenland from Denmark, which controls the territory. At the same time, it has not ruled out the possibility of taking it by force.

Denmark and Greenland have both strongly said the island isnot for sale. Danish officials have warned that ...