Donald Trump is not ruling out the possibility of using American military power to regain control of the Panama Canal and to claim Greenland, citing economic security as a key justification. Speaking at a press conference at Mar-a-Lago on Tuesday, the incoming US president was asked directly about his intentions regarding these territories but refused to guarantee against using either military or economic force.
“I can’t assure you on either of those two,” Trump replied when questioned. “But I can say this, we need them for economic security.”
Trump’s comments, made during an extended press session at his Florida estate, are likely to raise alarms in diplomatic circles worldwide as he prepares to take office again later this month, bringing with him a stance of assertive American nationalism.
Trump suggested that the Panama Canal, which was handed over to Panama in 1999 under a 1977 treaty, is now being “operated by China,” as he reiterated his call for the strategic waterway to be brought back under U.S. control. “The Panama Canal was built for our military,” Trump stated. “Look, the Panama Canal is vital to our country. It’s being operated by China. China! And we gave the Panama Canal to Panama, we didn’t give it to China.”
Regarding Greenland, Trump warned of potential economic consequences for Denmark, indicating that if the country resisted his territorial claims, he would “tariff Denmark at a very high level.”
His aggressive rhetoric also extended to Canada, which he similarly threatened with “very serious tariffs,” while downplaying its military capacity. “Canada is subsidized to the tune of about $200bn a year, plus other things. They don’t essentially have a military. They have a very small military. They rely on our military,” Trump remarked.
These comments came as Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr., arrived in Greenland’s capital, Nuuk, where he reportedly handed out “Make Greenland Great Again” hats, despite claiming the trip was purely for tourism. Video footage later showed the former president talking to his son during a lunch gathering, saying, “We’re going to treat you well.”
Trump’s focus on Panama and Greenland signals an ambiguous attempt to extend U.S. territorial influence, with both regions tied to strategic and economic considerations. While the Panama Canal was once under U.S. control, Greenland remains an autonomous part of Denmark, having consistently rejected American attempts to negotiate its status.
Trump’s comments build on his previous confrontational remarks about the canal, including a recent warning that the U.S. would “demand that the Panama Canal be returned to the United States of America – in full, quickly and without question.” Panama’s president, José Raúl Mulino, firmly rejected Trump’s claims, stating that “every square metre” of the canal would remain Panamanian.
This exchange marks a significant escalation in the rhetoric surrounding the canal, a crucial maritime passage originally constructed by the U.S. in 1914 and operated under American control for much of the 20th century. The aggressive stance recalls tensions that led to the U.S. invasion of Panama in 1989.
In December 1989, the U.S. launched Operation Just Cause, deploying 9,000 troops to join 12,000 already stationed in the country, with the goal of ousting the Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega. The invasion, which resulted in the deaths of 23 U.S. service members and about 500 Panamanian civilians, was condemned by both the Organization of American States and the European Parliament for violating international law. Noriega was later convicted of drug trafficking and sentenced to 40 years in U.S. prison.
Trump has also increased pressure on other territories, suggesting that Canada could eventually become the “51st state” and mockingly referring to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as the “governor” of Canada.
Trump Jr.’s visit to Greenland included stops at contentious colonial landmarks and interactions with local residents, although the specific nature of these meetings remains unclear. No formal meetings with Greenlandic government officials were reported. Trump shared details of his son’s trip on social media, writing, “Don Jr and my Reps landing in Greenland. The reception has been great. They, and the Free World, need safety, security, strength, and PEACE! This is a deal that must happen. MAGA. MAKE GREENLAND GREAT AGAIN!” Later, videos emerged of Trump speaking with locals by phone.
The Danish Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, responded to the growing tensions by stating on Tuesday that the future of Greenland would be decided by its people, emphasizing, “Greenland is not for sale.”
{Matzav.com}