Trump ramps up threats to gain control of Greenland and Panama Canal

President-elect Donald Trump has shown no signs of diminishing his desire for the U.S. to acquire Greenland and the Panama Canal, stating that both are crucial to U.S. national security. When asked by reporters if he would rule out using military or economic force to take over the Danish autonomous territory or the canal, he responded, “No, I can’t guarantee you that either of those things wouldn’t be used.”

“But what I will say is, we need them for economic security,” Trump told reporters at a press conference held at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. It remains unclear how serious his remarks were or if this is simply a negotiating tactic. Both Denmark and Panama have made it clear that they reject any proposals to relinquish their territories.

Trump also vowed that he would use "economic power" when asked if he would try to annex Canada, calling the border between them a "man-made line." The border, the longest between any two countries in the world, was established in treaties during the late 1700s when the U.S. was founded. Trump stated that the U.S. spends billions protecting Canada and criticized Canadian auto, lumber, and dairy imports. "They should be a state," he told reporters. However, outgoing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that a merger between the two countries was "absolutely not going to happen."

The press conference was originally billed as an economic development announcement to publicize a $20 billion U.S. investment plan by Dubai-based developer Damac Properties to build data centers. But the President-elect then went on to criticize environmental regulations, the U.S. election system, various lawsuits against him, and President Joe Biden. He also suggested renaming the Gulf of Mexico the "Gulf of America" and reiterated his opposition to wind power, saying wind turbines "drive the whales crazy."

Meanwhile, his son, Donald Trump Jr., is visiting Greenland. Prior to arriving in the capital, Nuuk, Trump Jr. said that he would be taking a "personal day trip" to speak with locals and had no plans to meet with government officials. When asked about Trump Jr.’s visit to Greenland, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said on Danish television that “Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders” and that only local residents can decide their future. She agreed that "Greenland is not for sale" but emphasized that Denmark needs to work closely with its NATO ally, the U.S.

Greenland, which is located on the shortest route from North America to Europe, is home to large U.S. space facilities. It also holds some of the largest deposits of rare earth minerals, which are essential for manufacturing batteries and high-tech equipment. Trump believes the island is critical for monitoring the military movements of Chinese and Russian ships, which he said are "everywhere." "I'm talking about protecting the free world," he told reporters.

Since winning reelection, Trump has repeatedly brought up the idea of U.S. territorial expansion, including reclaiming the Panama Canal. At the press conference, Trump said the canal was "vital to our country" and claimed "it's being run by China." He has previously accused Panama of charging U.S. ships excessive fees to use the canal. Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino dismissed Trump's claims, stating that there was "absolutely no Chinese intervention" in the canal. A Hong Kong-based company, CK Hutchison Holdings, manages two ports at the canal's entrance.

The canal was built in the early 20th century, and the U.S. controlled the canal zone until 1977, when land was gradually returned to Panama under treaties negotiated by President Jimmy Carter. "Giving the Panama Canal to Panama was a very big mistake," Trump said. "Look, [Carter] was a nice man…but that was a big mistake." It remains unclear how serious the President-elect is about increasing U.S. territory, particularly with Canada, a country with a population of 41 million and the second-largest land mass in the world.

At the press conference, Trump also repeated some false information and bizarre conspiracy theories, including suggesting that the Islamic militant group Hezbollah was involved in the 2021 U.S. Capitol riot.