A new poll that will be music to the ears of Donald Trump has found a majority of residents in Greenland support becoming part of the United States.

The frozen lands of the world's biggest island, which is administered by Denmark, have been bathed in the international spotlight ever since Mr Trump declared on his Truth Social platform that "the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity".

But despite sending his son, Donald Trump Jr, to Greenland the current owners of the icy territory have so far given the President-elect's plans the cold shoulder.

Speaking at press conference, Greenland Prime Minister Múte Egede said "we do not want to be American", and Danish PM Mette Frederiksen added that "Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders" and that the island is "not for sale".

However, a new poll released by Patriot Polling has found 57.3% of respondents approved Greenland becoming part of the United States.

According to the survey only 37.4% rejected President Trump's idea, with a further 5.3% undecided on the move.

US political publication, The Hill reports the sample size of those polled was however quite small, with just 416 people surveyed from a total Greenland population of nearly 57,000. It is believed to be the first poll where those surveyed in Greenland support the country becoming part of the US.

Greenland has become of interest to several world powers, including the US, Russia and China, because of the vast mineral deposits and rare earth metals that scientists believe will be exposed as climate change melts the glaciers covering most the country.

The Arctic nation is also of strategic military importance to both the Kremlin and the White House as Greenland sits almost exactly the same distance from Moscow and Washington DC, around 2,000 miles from each city.

The US views Greenland as vital for defence against Vladimir Putin's Russia and America already has a presence at the Pituffik Space Base, part of its early warning system against ballistic missiles.

Writing on his social media site, Truth Social, Mr Trump said: "For purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity."

After the visit of his son Donald Jr to the territory, Mr Trump said the "reception has been great" and that Greenland "and the Free World, need safety, security, strength, and peace!

"Make Greenland great again", he added.