President-elect Trump has spent part of the holiday season vowing to take over the Panama Canal, calling for the U.S. to buy Greenland from Denmark and hinting at the possibility of Canada becoming the 51st state.
All of this suggests that President Trump is focused on expanding the United States in some way, but it's hard to tell how serious he is.
Some Republicans think Trump is just trolling, while others see it as a strategic ploy related to strengthening U.S. national security.
“The Panama issue is a China issue. They dominate the Western Hemisphere economically and financially, and we've been sitting on the sidelines,” said a former Trump campaign official.
Panama has controlled the canal connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans for almost 25 years. President Trump complained of “exorbitant prices” and said the United States was being “cheated” while floating the idea that the United States could seize the canal.
China has invested heavily in Panama, including many construction deals, and controls two of Panama's five major ports.
In his complaint, President Trump implied that countries like China were gaining undue influence over management of the canal. Panama's President Jose Raúl Mulino pushed back against Trump's claims, saying tolls for the canal are not determined “on a whim.”
The purchase of Greenland can also be seen as a national security strategy.
The Arctic is a key region as the United States seeks to counter Russia and China, but conflicts are escalating as ice melts and new shipping routes open up.
Greenland is also rich in natural resources.
President Trump said in 2019 that buying autonomous but Danish-owned Greenland would be “strategically” interesting, prompting an angry reaction from then-Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.
In a post on Truth Social last week announcing his selection as ambassador to Denmark, President Trump declared it was “absolutely necessary” for the United States to own the island's territory.
Prime Minister Moute Egede insisted Greenland would “never be for sale” and Denmark announced new policies to strengthen the Arctic island's security.
“What is he really saying here?'' Republican strategist Ford O'Connell gushed about President Trump's talk about Greenland, Canada and the Panama Canal, saying that the United States would control the Western Hemisphere. He said he was talking about a revival of doctrine.
The Monroe Doctrine, announced by former President Monroe in 1823, prevents the United States from becoming involved or intervening in European political affairs.
In some ways, President Trump's repeated jabs at Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as a U.S. governor seem like trolling.
But Republican lawmakers watching believe the next president is also aiming to gain an upper hand in trade negotiations.
President Trump vowed to impose a 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico, accusing both countries of inaction or cross-border drug trafficking and crime.
In a Christmas Day post, President Trump called Trudeau “the governor,” said Canada's taxes are “too high,” and claimed they would be cut if Canada became the 51st state. He also suggested that hockey great Wayne Gretzky should run for Prime Minister of Canada, saying the job “soon will be known as Governor of Canada.”
Many people in Canada don't find President Trump's online comments funny.
“It's pretty frightening that he has no problem making such threats against America's closest allies,” said Matthew Lebo, a political science professor at the University of Western Ontario and a visiting professor at McGill University. ” he says.
Canadian leaders appear to be taking this statement quite seriously.
In response to President Trump's tariff threat, Trudeau flew to Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla., to meet with Trump at his home base last month, while Ontario Premier Doug Ford cut off energy supplies to the United States. Lebo pointed out that he threatened to do so. What if Trump really imposed heavy tariffs on Canadian exports?
“Depending on how far this goes, we're going to do everything in our power. We're going to go as far as cutting off their energy in Michigan, New York, all the way to Wisconsin.”Virtual meeting with Prime Minister Trudeau Ford said at a press conference after the meeting. According to CBS News.
“I don't want this to happen, but Ontario is the largest province, so my job number one is to protect Ontario, Ontarians and all Canadians,” Ford said.
Lebo said some Canadian leaders are unsure what to make of Trump's comments and how to respond.
“I don't know what strategy is right for dealing with bullies. Do you be nice and give them what they want, or do you try to threaten them and get back at them?” Lebo said.
new leger pollThe Canadian Press reported that 13 per cent of Canadians were open to the idea of joining the United States, but that number was “in the same range as the proportion of Ukrainians who want to be part of Russia. '' Lebo pointed out.
Democratic strategist Anjuan Seawright said President Trump's focus on three areas was “somewhat controversial” after the chaos at the Capitol over government funding ahead of last Friday's deadline. , dismissed it as a distraction tactic.''
“It's about power and control and extremism,” Seawright said. “[It’s] Donald Trump is seeking unbridled power and control of the narrative and conversation. ”
Meanwhile, Trump's team suggested that world leaders were seeking him out, given his growing global power.
“World leaders are gathered around the table because President Trump has already fulfilled his promise to make America strong again. Once he officially takes office, foreign countries will think twice before looting our country. America will be respected again and the entire world will be safer,” Trump-Vance transition press secretary Anna Kelly told The Hill in a statement.
Mr. Trump's team also noted that Canada is already working to secure its borders to prevent drugs from entering the United States, and Mr. Trump has vowed to curb Chinese economic aggression by securing the Panama Canal and He said he intended to control Russian aggression by controlling Rand.
