On SiriusXM's The Megyn Kelly Show, Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended President Trump's controversial pursuit of Greenland and the Canal, describing the initiative as a strategic countermeasure to thwart China's expanding Arctic ambitions and secure vital U.S. shipping lanes.

The top US diplomat said President Donald Trump’s proposal to buy Greenland “is not a joke” because of the risk that China would station resources on the island that threaten American security and the importance of Arctic shipping lanes for energy exports.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio says President Donald Trump's desire to acquire Greenland and retake control of the Panama Canal is driven by legitimate national security interests stemming from growing concerns about Chinese activity and influence in the Arctic and in Latin America.

The secretary of State said purchasing the Danish territory is important to the country’s national interests in the Arctic.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio insisted that President Donald Trump’s talk about buying Greenland “is not a joke.” “This is not about acquiring land for the purpose of acquiring land,” Rubio said in an interview on Thursday with Megyn Kelly on SiriusXM.