Washington [US], December 25: US President-elect Donald Trump has made a series of statements related to territorial expansion, such as buying Greenland, "reclaiming" the Panama Canal, and turning Canada into a state.
The New York Post on December 24 quoted sources close to US President-elect Donald Trump as saying that he is "100% serious" about wanting to annex Greenland and the Panama Canal to the US. Before taking office for his second term, he repeatedly mentioned territorial expansion, while analysts said that there may be plans that he will actually try to implement.
Multiple goals
When announcing the nomination of former US Ambassador to Sweden Ken Howery as ambassador to Denmark on December 22, Mr. Trump reiterated his intention in 2019 to buy Greenland, an island that is an autonomous territory of Denmark located east of Canada and the United States.
"For the sake of our national security and freedom in the world , the United States finds it absolutely necessary to own and control Greenland," Trump wrote on social media . The information prompted a quick response from Greenland's leader, Mute Egede. "Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and never will be," he said. The office of Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen also confirmed Egede's position.
Previously, on December 21, Mr. Trump accused Panama of charging unfairly high fees to American ships and threatened to regain control of the Panama Canal, according to Reuters.
"We are being ripped off at the Panama Canal like we are everywhere else. It was given to Panama with conditions. If the principles, both moral and legal, of this noble gesture are not followed, we will reclaim the Panama Canal completely, quickly and without question," Mr. Trump said.
Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino later said that the country's independence was non-negotiable and that no country could influence the management of the canal. According to Politico , the United States helped Panama gain independence from Colombia in the early 20th century to build the Panama Canal, which connects the Pacific Ocean with the Atlantic Ocean. The United States agreed to return control of the canal to Panama in 1999, but reserved the right to intervene militarily to ensure the canal's neutrality.
In addition, Mr. Trump also suggested that Canada should become the 51st state of the US and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau should be the governor, during a meeting between the two on the evening of November 29 in Florida (USA). Canadian Green Party leader Elizabeth May later said that Mr. Trump's "joke" was "not funny at all".
Real Intention
According to The Sun , Mr. Trump's statements are extremely rare when it comes to urging a sovereign country to hand over territory, and at the same time show a change in upcoming US foreign policy. CNN commented that his statements are sometimes the opening words for negotiating efforts. Meanwhile, an anonymous adviser to Mr. Trump said that "trade is his top concern," so pressuring Panama to reduce fees could offset the expected increase in prices in the US for imported goods that Mr. Trump wants to increase tariffs on.
On the Greenland issue, Fox News said there is a high possibility that the US will participate in a huge land purchase in the next 4 years. A former official who worked under Mr. Trump's first term said this is not too much because the US bought Alaska from Russia in 1867 for $ 7.2 million. "People think it's crazy, and then it's not," the official said, referring to the Alaska purchase that was criticized before understanding the strategic value and resources.
Meanwhile, on the issue of Canada , the New York Post quoted sources saying that Mr. Trump only meant to blame the trade deficit when saying that the country should become the 51st state of the US.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper
