Trump insists the U.S. must take control of Greenland to prevent Russia or China from doing the same — an argument Beijing dismissed Monday as "an excuse" to pursue territorial ambitions.

President Donald Trump is not the first U.S. government official interested in Greenland. The first major attempt to control the island was in 1868.

US President Donald Trump has stepped up his designs on taking over Denmark's autonomous territory Greenland, but questions abound about why he has taken an aggressive stance when the US already has extensive access to the Arctic island.

President Trump argued the U.S. must acquire Greenland to prevent Russia or China from taking over, claiming Arctic territory has minimal defenses amid rising geopolitical tensions.

Trump allies have cited the island's continued role in missile defense infrastructure, accusing Denmark of leaving it vulnerable to potential Russian and Chinese influence.

China on Monday (January 12) urged the United States not to use other countries as an excuse to pursue its own interests, after U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. needed to own Greenland to prevent Russia or China from occupying it in the future.