Trump suggests he could use military force to acquire Panama Canal and Greenland and 'economic force' to annex Canada
NBCDEC 26 2024
Trump Refuses to Rule Out Using Military to Take Greenland, Panama Canal
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Above: US Pres.-elect Donald Trump speaks to members of the media during a press conference at the Mar-a-Lago Club on Jan. 7, 2025 in Palm Beach, Fla. Image copyright: Scott Olson/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
At a press conference at Mar-a-Lago on Tuesday, US Pres.-elect Donald Trump refused to "commit" to not using the military to acquire Greenland and the Panama Canal, stressing that the US needs them for economic security.
Since his election victory, Trump has expressed a desire to take over the Arctic island from Denmark, as well as regain control over the canal that was turned over to Panama in 1999 in accordance with a Carter administration treaty.
Trump has argued that America needs Greenland — home to a large US military base — for national security, adding that NATO ally Denmark has allowed Chinese and Russian ships to sail near the island. The pres.-elect has even questioned the legitimacy of Danish claim to the island.
The Spin
Anti-Trump narrative
It's concerning that Trump, just days before his return to the White House, has publicly treated countries — more specifically reliable US allies — as if their territories and sovereignty were up for trade. Given that he is no longer a newcomer to frontline politics, he should have known better that this approach can bring no good.
Pro-Trump narrative
Pres.-elect Trump's goal of acquiring Greenland, the Panama Canal, and Canada makes perfect sense despite his opponents saying otherwise. With China a looming threat to the free world, it's a matter of survival that America ramps up its national and economic security in order to help its allies.
