Weeks before his planned return to office, former President and President-elect Donald Trump has rekindled international tensions by demanding that the US acquire a number of territories, including Canada, Greenland, and the Panama Canal.
Territorial Claims Over Greenland
When Trump announced his ambassador to Denmark, he said that “ownership and control of Greenland” was “an absolute necessity” for US national security. This brings back memories of his failed attempt to buy the region in 2019, which resulted in the cancellation of his trip to Denmark when Copenhagen rejected it.
Greenland’s head of government, Mute Bourup Egede, firmly responded:
“Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and will never be for sale.”
The world’s largest island, hosting a major US military base, has maintained home rule from Denmark since 1979.
Territorial Claims: Panama Canal
Trump escalated tensions by threatening to retake control of the Panama Canal, citing concerns over increased shipping costs. He posted on social media:
- A demand for the canal’s return “in full, quickly and without question”
- An image of a US flag in the canal zone labeled “Welcome to the United States Canal!”
Jose Raul Mulino, the president of Panama, firmly retorted that “every square metre of the canal belongs to Panama and will continue to.” A 1977 accord allowed the US to hand over authority to Panama in 1999.
Territorial Claims: Canada
Trump’s territorial ambitions extended to Canada, where he:
- Recommended Canada is now the 51st state in the US.
- “Governor” of the “Great State of Canada” was the title used to describe Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
- uploaded a picture of himself scouting Canada.
- met with Trudeau recently at Mar-a-Lago to discuss possible 25% tariffs on Canadian exports.
Impact of Territorial Claims
The canal’s current challenges stem from 2023 droughts that forced reduced ship crossings and increased fees. These territorial claims by the incoming president have already strained relationships with key US allies weeks before his January 20 inauguration.
While Trudeau suggested Trump’s Canadian annexation comments were jokes, the combined territorial claims toward Greenland, Panama, and Canada represent an unprecedented stance toward allied nations by a US president-elect.
