Trump Refuses to Rule Out Using Military to Take Greenland, Panama Canal

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Facts

  • At a press conference at Mar-a-Lago on Tuesday, US Pres.-elect Donald Trump refused to "commit" to not using the military to acquire Greenland and the Panama Canal, stressing that the US needs them for economic security.[1][2]
  • Since his election victory, Trump has expressed a desire to take over the Arctic island from Denmark, as well as regain control over the canal that was turned over to Panama in 1999 in accordance with a Carter administration treaty.[2][3]
  • Trump has argued that America needs Greenland — home to a large US military base — for national security, adding that NATO ally Denmark has allowed Chinese and Russian ships to sail near the island. The pres.-elect has even questioned the legitimacy of Danish claim to the island.^[4][5]6
  • Regarding the Panama Canal, the Republican said that the late former Pres. Jimmy Carter made a trillion-dollar mistake when he agreed to return the waterway to Panama, and that China — which controls two nearby ports — has been operating the canal.[1][6]
  • Trump also suggested that Canada should become a US state, highlighting that Washington spends "hundreds of billions" of dollars annually to protect and support its northern neighbor. He did rule out the use of military force to acquire Canada, but pledged to apply economic pressure.[5][7]
  • Furthermore, the pres.-elect announced his plans to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, in an apparent retaliation against Mexico "allowing millions of people to pour into" the US. Other countries would have no obligation to adopt a new name.[8][9]

Sources: [1]Daily Wire, [2]NBC, [3]The Wall Street Journal, [4]Newsmax, [5]Associated Press, [6]The New York Times, [7]Washington Times, [8]CBS and [9]Forbes.

Narratives

  • Anti-Trump narrative, as provided by Time. It's concerning that Trump, just days before his return to the White House, has publicly treated countries — more specifically reliable US allies — as if their territories and sovereignty were up for trade. Given that he is no longer a newcomer to frontline politics, he should have known better that this approach can bring no good.
  • Pro-Trump narrative, as provided by PJ Media. Pres.-elect Trump's goal of acquiring Greenland, the Panama Canal, and Canada makes perfect sense despite his opponents saying otherwise. With China a looming threat to the free world, it's a matter of survival that America ramps up its national and economic security in order to help its allies.