U.S. President Donald Trump said that Greenland is important to the United States, but not to Denmark.

“Greenland is very important to the United States, but it is not important to Denmark,” Trump said at a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Ankara.

According to the American leader, Washington took the island under its protection after Denmark was occupied by the Nazis during World War II, but then “foolishly” handed it back.