US President-elect Donald Trump has not ruled out the possibility of using military and economic pressure to acquire the Panama Canal and Greenland.
Since his victory in the November election, Trump has been promoting his expansionist mindset.
Trump is set to take office as President of the United States on January 20. That means there are still two weeks left before he assumes power. However, Trump has already begun outlining his aggressive foreign policy, paying little heed to diplomatic considerations or the concerns of American allies.
On Tuesday, during a press conference at Trump’s Florida resort, he was asked whether he could assure the world that he would not use military or economic force in his efforts to gain control over the Panama Canal and Greenland.
In response, Trump did not hold back and directly said, “No, I cannot give you any assurance regarding those two. However, I can say that we need both of them for our economic security.”
On the same day, Panama’s Foreign Minister, Javier Martínez-Acha, responded to Trump’s remarks. He told reporters, “The control of the canal belongs solely to the people of Panama, and it will remain in their hands.”
The Panama Canal is a vital route for global trade. The United States built the canal, and initially, the U.S. controlled it. However, in 1999, control of the Panama Canal was handed over to the Central American country of Panama.
Earlier, in December, Trump had stated that ownership and control of Greenland were crucial for the national security of the United States. During his first term, Trump had expressed interest in purchasing the Arctic island of Greenland.
However, Denmark has stated that this autonomous territory is not for sale.
In response to Trump’s comments, Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said on Tuesday, “I believe it is not good to fight against each other just for economic gain, because we are close allies and partners.”
