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US President-elect Donald Trump has intensified his rhetoric regarding the potential takeover of Greenland and the Panama Canal, describing both as critical to US economic and national security.
During a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida on Tuesday, Trump declined to rule out the use of military or economic measures to assert control over Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory, or the Panama Canal. “No, I can’t assure you on either of those two,” he said, adding, “But I can say this, we need them for economic security.”
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Both Denmark and Panama swiftly rejected any suggestion of relinquishing sovereignty. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen reiterated, “Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders,” emphasizing that only the local population can determine their future. Similarly, Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino dismissed Trump’s assertions about Chinese control of the canal as baseless.
Trump also floated the idea of annexing Canada, calling the US-Canada border an “artificially drawn line” and stating, “They should be a state.” His remarks further included a pledge to use “economic force” to pursue US interests and criticism of Canadian trade practices.
The conference, initially set to announce a $20 billion investment in US data centres by Dubai-based Damac Properties, veered into broader topics. Trump criticized environmental regulations, US election systems, and the legal cases against him. He also proposed renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America” and claimed that wind turbines were “driving whales crazy.”
Trump’s renewed interest in Greenland, a territory strategically located on the shortest route between North America and Europe, is tied to its vast deposits of rare earth minerals critical to advanced technology production. Greenland also hosts a key US space facility.
Trump Jr.’s visit to Greenland added fuel to the speculation. While described as a “personal day trip,” it prompted questions about the administration’s intentions.
Trump reiterated his belief that relinquishing US control of the Panama Canal was a “very big mistake,” asserting its strategic importance and claiming, “It’s being operated by China.” While Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison Holdings manages two ports at the canal’s entrances, Panamanian officials maintain that the canal itself remains free of foreign interference.
The president-elect’s provocative comments, paired with repeated falsehoods and conspiracy theories during the conference, have raised eyebrows both domestically and abroad. Trump’s claims included accusations that the FBI played a role in the January 6 Capitol riot and unsubstantiated links between Hezbollah and the incident.
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