German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has stressed that national borders are inviolable. He was apparently referring to US President-elect Donald Trump's comments regarding a possible US takeover of Greenland.

Trump said on Tuesday that the United States needs the Danish autonomous territory for national security purposes.

Scholz told reporters in Berlin on Wednesday that he spoke with other European leaders. He said that there is a "certain lack of understanding" among them regarding the recent statements from the United States.

Scholz noted, "The principle of the inviolability of borders applies to every country." He added, "Every state must abide by it, whether it is a small country or a very powerful state."

German media outlets are reporting that Scholz has issued a warning to Trump over the president-elect's comments about Greenland and the Panama Canal.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken offered his view on Trump's comments at a news conference in Paris on Wednesday.

Blinken said, "We get better results when we're working closely with our allies, not saying or doing things that may alienate them."

He also said, "The idea expressed about Greenland is obviously not a good one."

But the secretary added, "It's obviously one that's not going to happen, so we probably shouldn't waste a lot of time talking about it."