President-elect Donald Trump refused to rule out the use of military force to seize control of Greenland and Panama during a press conference on Tuesday.
“Can you assure the world that as you try to get control of these areas you are not going to use military or economic coercion,” a reporter asked Trump, who clarified that the reporter was asking about Greenland and Panama.
“No,” the president-elect responded. “I can’t assure you on either of those two.”
“I’m not gonna commit to that, it might be that you’ll have to do something” Trump added when a reporter interjected to ask specifically about military force.
“The Panama Canal is vital to our country. It’s being operated by China. China! We gave the Panama canal to Panama, we didn’t give it to China. And they abused that gift,” he added.
“We need Greenland for national security purposes,” Trump told another reporter. “People don’t even know if Denmark has any legal right to it. But if they do, they should give it up, because we need it for national security. That’s for the free world, I’m talking about the free world.”
Earlier in the press conference, during his prepared remarks, Trump lambasted Panama over their management of the canal. “The deal was that, you know, they have to treat us fairly. They don’t treat us fairly. They charge more for our ships than ships of other countries. They charge more for our Navy than they charge for Navies of countries. They laugh at us because they think we’re stupid” he said, accusing the nation of “violating every aspect” of their agreement.
The former president did not elaborate on any specific plans for his proposed takeover of Greenland from the Kingdom of Denmark, one of America’s NATO allies. The press conference took place as his son and adviser Donald Trump Jr. visited the nation along with a contingent of close allies.
In December, Trump revived a bizarre episode from his first term as president in which he expressed interest in purchasing Greenland. “For purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Hours later, the Danish government announced that it would be increasing security spending around the island. “We are not for sale,” declared Greenland’s Prime Minister Mute Egede.
While the president-elect was questioned about his plans for the Panama Canal and Greenland, they’re not the only territory he’s mused putting under U.S. control in recent days. Canada is also on the list.
“Many people in Canada LOVE being the 51st State,” he wrote on Monday after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced he will resign as head of state. “The United States can no longer suffer the massive Trade Deficits and Subsidies that Canada needs to stay afloat. Justin Trudeau knew this, and resigned. If Canada merged with the U.S., there would be no Tariffs, taxes would go way down, and they would be TOTALLY SECURE from the threat of the Russian and Chinese Ships that are constantly surrounding them. Together, what a great Nation it would be!!!”
It seems that Trump is attempting to create a version of Manifest Destiny — the 19th century doctrine holding that the United States was destined to expand westward to the Pacific Ocean — that extends not just east to west, but north to south.
On Tuesday, the president-elect also claimed that he would be changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico, to the “Gulf of America.” He has not floated plans to adopt Mexico as the 52nd state, but he has in the past floated plans to conduct a military invasion of our southern neighbor.
Daniel D`Amico for SANREMO.FM
