Donald Trump has proposed that Canada become a US state, is demanding that Denmark sell Greenland, and is reportedly discussing the fate of the Panama Canal with Panamanian authorities.
Donald Trump will re-seat as President of the United States in two weeks and he is already scaring the whole world with his statements about claiming territory in the lands of several countries at the same time. This is not the first time some of the claims have been made, but the reaction to Trump’s words has been extremely harsh.
Canada
Trump believes many Canadians want their country to become America’s 51st state. “The United States can no longer tolerate the large trade deficits and subsidies that Canada needs to stay afloat. Justin Trudeau knew about this and resigned,” Trump wrote on his social network Truth.
According to the US President-elect, Americans and Canadians will together form a great nation, taxes will be reduced, trade tariffs will be removed, and both countries (or rather, now one country) will will be fully protected from Russian and Chinese warships.
At the same time, Trump will introduce 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and promises to sign such an order on his first day as head of state.
Trudeau, who remains Canada’s Prime Minister for now, responded by saying Canada has “not a snowball’s chance in hell” of becoming part of the United States, adding that the two countries are the country’s largest trade and security partners. each other.
Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly told X that Trump showed a “lack of understanding of what makes Canada a strong country.”
“Our economy is strong. Our people are strong. We will never back down in the face of threats,” she wrote.
In response to Trudeau, Elon Musk, who under Trump will serve as head of the Department of Government Efficiency, left a very harsh comment.
“Girl, you are no longer the governor of Canada. Your opinion is no longer important,” wrote Musk. Trudeau was previously called the Governor of Canada by Trump, referring to the position held by the heads of American states.
Greenland
Trump’s other territorial claim is Greenland, the world’s largest island, an autonomy within Denmark. On Christmas Eve, Trump said that ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity for the United States.
“Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and never will be. We must not lose our long struggle for independence,” responded Greenland’s Prime Minister Mute Egede.
Denmark, which owns Greenland, has announced a significant increase in defense spending for Greenland.
In addition, on January 6, the King of Denmark ordered to change the coat of arms of the kingdom so that the heraldic symbols of Greenland and the Faroe Islands – the bear and the sheep – become larger and more visible.
Trump’s statement came amid news of the president-elect’s son, Donald Trump Jr., traveling to Greenland. On Tuesday, January 7, he arrived on a private plane in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland. Trump Jr. said that his trip was purely private and he had no plans to meet with the autonomy authorities.
However, on the same day, his father reiterated his desire to control Greenland and the Panama Canal by the United States, and at the same time refused to reveal that he would do so by military means.
Panama
Trump’s third territorial claim is control of the Panama Canal, one of the world’s most important waterways, linking the Pacific Bay of Panama to the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Until 1999 it was controlled by the United States, but now belongs to the state of Panama.
On December 21, Trump accused Panama of imposing ridiculously high tariffs on the Panama Canal and threatened to demand its return to US control. According to him, the channel plays a decisive role for the American economy and national security and it cannot be allowed to fall into the wrong hands, that is, under the control of China, as follows from Trump’s statement.
In response, Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino said that “every square meter of the Panama Canal and its surrounding areas belongs to Panama and will continue to belong to it.” He noted that the channel is not directly or indirectly controlled by China, and expressed hope for good and respectful relations between Panama and the new US administration.
And on January 7, Trump said he was discussing the channel’s fate with Panamanian authorities. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of this country responded that the government of Panama does not have any contact with the new US administration. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic, Javier Martinez-Acha Vázquez, emphasized that the sovereignty of the canal is not discussed and “is part of our history of struggle.”
New reality
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrault said that he personally does not believe that the United States is seriously ready to attack Greenland, but the European Union will not allow anyone to intimidate itself one way or another.
“It is clear that the European Union will not allow anyone to attack the borders of its sovereignty, no matter what country wants to do it,” Barrot said on French Inter radio. “It is completely obvious and does not raise the slightest doubt.”
“If we put the question differently—say, “Have we returned to a time when the strongest and only the strongest survived?”—I would answer: “Yes, we have.”
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that the principle of inviolability of borders applies to all countries, wherever they are located – in the East or in the West. “In the negotiations with our European partners, there is concern regarding recent US statements. One thing is clear: we must stick together,” Scholz said.
Source: korrespondent
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.