U.S. President-electhas announced a wide range of foreign policy proposals, including a possible takeover of Greenland and Canada.
During a press conference this week, Trump also suggested turning Canada into a U.S. state, and renaming the Gulf of Mexico “the Gulf of America”.
Trump’s 2024 election win was officially certified this week, ahead of his inauguration on 20 January.
Greenland
Greenland is an island of 56,000 people, located between Europe and North America. It has untapped mineral and oil deposits.
Greenland is a territory of Denmark. Its head of state is Danish King Frederik X. However, Greenland is mainly “self-governing,” creating its own laws for major issues.
The U.S. has had ain Greenland since the 1950s.
Trump told reporters on Wednesday the U.S. needs control of Greenland “for national security purposes”.
It’s the second time since being re-elected President that Trump has floated the possibility of taking control of Greenland.
He made a similar suggestion during his previous term as President in 2019.
Trump did not rule out using military or economic coercion to take control of Greenland from Denmark.
He said he would impose high taxes (tariffs) on goods imported from Denmark if it refused to give up the territory.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told state TV: “Greenland is not for sale”.
In a post to Facebook, Greenland’s Prime Minister Múte Bourup Egede said: “Greenland belongs to the people of Greenland… Americans are entitled to their opinions, but we should not be caught up in the hysteria”.
Panama Canal
Trump similarly said he wouldn’t rule out military or economic action to take over the Panama Canal, an artificial waterway that runs through Central America.
It was built in the early 20th century to shorten the journeys of trade ships from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean.
The canal was controlled by the U.S. until 1999 and now falls under Panama’s jurisdiction.
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In his press conference, Trump falsely claimed that the canal is under Chinese control.
“The Panama Canal is vital to our country. It’s being operated by China,” he said.
“We gave the Panama Canal to Panama, we didn’t give it to China.”
Panamian Foreign Minister Javier Martínez-Acha issued a statement in response, saying: “The sovereignty of the Panama Canal is not negotiable.”
Canada
Trump has previously referred to Canada as the “51st state” of America.
In his press conference, Trump criticised existing U.S. trade arrangements with Canada for products such as cars, dairy, and lumber.
Trump expressed interest in removing the “artificially drawn line” between the U.S. and Canada, although he ruled out military force unlike in Greenland.
“They should be a state,” Trump said.
Outgoing Canadian PM Justin Trudeau responded to Trump’s comments in a social media post.
“There isn’t a snowball’s chance in hell that that Canada would become part of the United States,” Trudeau said.
Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre also rejected Trump’s remarks.
“Canada will never be the 51st state. Period. We are a great and independent country.”
Gulf of Mexico
Trump also proposed renaming the ‘Gulf of Mexico’ to the ‘Gulf of America’, saying it would have a “beautiful ring” to it.
The body of water lies south of the U.S. and borders Mexico and Cuba.
Georgia congresswoman and Trump ally Marjorie Taylor Greene said she hasto rename the Gulf of Mexico.
“The rightful name is the Gulf of America and it’s what the entire world should refer to it as,” she posted on social media.
