President-elect Donald Trump expressed that he would not dismiss the possibility of using military force to take control of Greenland and the Panama Canal, calling both territories crucial to U.S. national security, reports AP.
In a press conference less than two weeks before his inauguration on January 20, Trump stated that military action could be a necessary option, despite his position going against long-standing U.S. policy of self-determination over territorial expansion. He emphasized the importance of both Greenland and the Panama Canal, saying, “The Panama Canal is vital to our country,” and, “We need Greenland for national security purposes.”
Trump’s remarks came as a delegation of aides, including his son Donald Trump Jr., was in Greenland. Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, is a NATO ally, while the Panama Canal has been integral to global shipping routes.
While Trump suggested the U.S. could take a more forceful stance regarding Greenland and the Panama Canal, he dismissed the idea of military action to bring Canada into the U.S., instead proposing “economic force” as an alternative approach.
Additionally, Trump spoke on a range of other topics, including his plans for the Gulf of Mexico, which he said he would rename the “Gulf of America.” He also discussed his frustration with outgoing President Joe Biden’s decision to ban new offshore oil and gas drilling in most federal waters. Trump pledged to reverse Biden’s actions on his first day in office, including legal challenges if necessary.
Despite Trump’s claims of a rough transition, Biden’s administration has extended courtesies to Trump’s team, with Trump’s incoming chief of staff, Susie Wiles, acknowledging the support of Biden’s chief of staff Jeff Zients.
Trump also criticized special counsel Jack Smith’s investigations into the January 6 Capitol insurrection and the handling of classified documents, which were recently dropped after Trump’s November election win. A report from Smith summarizing the investigation is expected to be released soon.
