Washington: US President-elect Donald Trump is harping on the expansion of the US territory. He first suggested the annexation of Greenland. After that, Canada was proposed to become the 51st state of the US and now it has threatened to retake the Panama Canal. Some of these comments may be rhetorical and provocative, but they are all loaded with strategic considerations. This means that Trump is raising these issues under a well-thought-out strategy, which can benefit him during his tenure. The big thing is that these three countries are close friends of America.
Why Greenland
Trump’s interest in Greenland is not new. During his first term in 2019, he introduced the idea of buying the autonomous Danish region. He cited the island’s strategic location and untapped natural resources so far. At the time, his suggestion was dismissed as “absurd” by then-Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, but Trump has since revisited the idea with renewed vigour.
In a statement posted on Truth Social this week, Trump declared, “For the purposes of national security and freedom all over the world, the United States feels that ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity.”
The announcement coincided with the nomination of PayPal co-founder Ken Havery as the U.S. ambassador to Denmark. Greenland’s Prime Minister Mute Agede immediately responded and said, “Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and never will be for sale. We must not lose our long struggle for freedom.”
The Danish authorities also echoed this sentiment. Former Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen reiterated the importance of Greenland’s sovereignty while expressing readiness for transatlantic cooperation. Greenland is home to over 50,000 people. This icy Arctic island has become quite geopolitically important due to its location and the increasing accessibility of the Arctic Circle as a result of climate change.
Panama Canal: Cracks in US-Panama relations
Trump’s rhetoric has increased about the Panama Canal, a key shipping route connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. This canal was built by the United States in the early 20th century. The canal was handed over to Panama under a treaty signed by US President Jimmy Carter.
Speaking at the Turning Point USA event in Phoenix, Trump criticized the “highly unfair” tariffs imposed by Panama on U.S. ships and demanded that the canal be returned.
“The Panama Canal must be returned to us completely, quickly, and without question,” he declared. He said Panama must fulfill its “moral and legal” obligations or face consequences.
Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino reacted strongly to this. Defending the successful operation of the canal under Panama’s sovereignty and the Panama administration, he said, “Every square meter of the Panama Canal and its surrounding area belongs to Panama and will continue to be.”
Mulino also dismissed Trump’s allegations of Chinese influence on the canal, calling them “unfounded.”
“Neither China, nor the European Community, nor the United States or any other power has any direct or indirect control over the canal,” he said.
However, Trump posted a picture of the US flag on the canal on social media, writing the caption: “Welcome to the United States Canal!” Trump’s rhetoric has reignited discussions about its strategic importance, while Panamanian officials strongly oppose any threat to its sovereignty.
Canada: 51st state of the United States
Donald Trump is not missing any opportunity to tease Canada. He first addressed Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as Governor. After dining with Justin Trudeau at Mar-a-Lago, Trump joked about the possibility of annexing Canada to his country and making it the 51st state of the US.
“Canada should become the 51st state of the United States, and I think that’s a great idea,” he wrote in a social media post. Earlier, Trump had threatened to impose a 25 percent tariff on Canada as soon as he became President.
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