US President-elect Donald Trump speaks at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, USA on January 7, 2025.
Carlos Barria | Reuters
President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday refused to rule out using the US military to seize the Panama Canal and Greenland, threatening to gain more US territory during his second term. expanded on a series of recent statements about
During a lengthy press conference at his Mar-a-Lago, Florida home, President Trump said both the Central American trade route and the Danish territory are “necessary for our economic security.”
A reporter asked President Trump if he could assure the public that he would not use military or economic coercion to pursue either land.
“No, I can’t guarantee either of those two things,” the president-elect replied.
“The Panama Canal was built for our military. I’m not going to commit to it, no…we might have to do something,” he said.
President Trump also expressed concern and frustration about China’s activities in both the Panama Canal and Greenland, and signaled to a powerful adversary, the United States, about China’s own efforts to expand its global influence. It may have been sent.
He said the canal was “operated by China.” “We didn’t give it to China, and they exploited it.”
At the same press conference, President Trump announced that his administration would seek to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America.”
“What a beautiful name,” he said, “and a fitting name.”
of rich in oil The body of water is 9th largest in the worldidentified on the map as the Gulf of Mexico. since the 1500s.
Since winning the presidential election in November, Trump has repeatedly thought about territorial annexation, particularly the Panama Canal. He criticizes former President Jimmy Carter, who died on Dec. 29, for negotiating a treaty that ultimately gave Panama full control of the 51-mile waterway.
The Republican, who will take office in two weeks, has also expressed interest in making Canada the “51st province.”
But he said on Tuesday that he was only considering economic pressure, not military pressure, on America’s ally and major trading partner.
“It would really be something,” he said of absorbing Canada into the United States. “It would be much better for national security if we removed the artificially drawn lines and looked at what it looks like.”
President Trump complained about the U.S. trade deficit with Canada, saying, “If it’s a state, I don’t care if it’s a deficit, but if it’s another country, I don’t want to have a deficit.”
President Trump threatened to force high customs duties Regarding imports from Canada, Second largest trading partner with the usa
However, President Trump said in a speech that if Canada became a U.S. state, “there would be no tariffs.” society of truth Monday’s post. He made the comment after embattled Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced he would step down as the country’s leader.
President Trump’s expansionist rhetoric has sometimes been the subject of ridicule.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford jokingly issued a counterproposal on Monday. Canada to buy Alaska After seeking opinions from other U.S. states, including the United States, they concluded that it is “not realistic.”
and Prime Minister Trudeau I wrote to X “There’s no snowballing chance that Canada will become part of the United States,” he said Tuesday afternoon.
Greenland Prime Minister Mute Egede said in December that the islandNot for sale And it will never be sold. ”
Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., reportedly landed in Greenland’s capital Nuuk on Tuesday to create media content.
his father is real social posts The day before, Trump Jr. said he was there to “visit some of the most amazing neighborhoods and sights.”
“Greenland is a wonderful place, and its people would benefit tremendously if it became part of our country,” Trump wrote.
