Trump’s threats on Greenland, Canada, and Panama escalate tensions
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Trump’s comments on Greenland, Canada, and the Panama Canal reflect a shift to interventionist policies, driven by national security, military interests, and resources.
Si vis pacem para bellum - if you want peace, prepare for war. This ancient saying seems to resonate with Trump, given the campaign promises to end ongoing wars in the Middle East and Ukraine. However, his latest comments on Greenland, the Gulf of Mexico, Canada and the Panama Canal suggest anything but a peaceful approach, demonstrating instead a rather interventionist stance regarding these territories.
US national security interests
Greenland has made international headlines lately due to Trump’s declarations about acquiring the island, either through purchase or other means. This is actually no news. Trump had already made his intentions clear in 2019 stating that buying Greenland was a large real estate deal. Apparently, Trump hasn’t changed his mind since then, but the acquisition of the island now appears linked to national security concerns. It’s worth notice that the US maintains a permanent military presence in Greenland at Thule Air base, which is the northeast base controlled by the US Space Force base. “The ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity” citing the potential threat to the US caused by the melting of Arctic glaciers that would shorten the distance with Russia. Greenland’s vast reserves of rare metals make it an eyed-on asset for China too.
A Danish “colony”
Greenland has been under Danish rule for centuries and nowadays, despite enjoying a large autonomy, is still tied to Denmark. The island is entitled to self-government and has control over domestic issues and domestic resources, however it still relies on the mother country for some national defence and security reasons.
Denmark’s reaction has not been long in coming: the King of Denmark, Frederic X, just following Trump’s declarations, updated the centuries-old design of the Danish coat of arms now displaying a larger Greenland. Danish Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, said “Greenland is not for sale”. Following the same line, Greenland’s Prime Minister Múte Bourup Egede, who has long been advocating for the island’s autonomy from Denmark, asserted that “we want to be Greenlanders” but he is determined to maintain an open dialogue with the US administration, urging respect for the country’s aspirations for independence.
Uncertainty persists whether Trump’s administration will pursue this claim in the future. Nonetheless, echoing his father’s declarations, Trump Jr, the future President’s eldest, jumped on Trump Force One and flew to Greenland for what seemed an institutional visit to the territory. Despite being denied by Trump’s son himself who declared he was just visiting the country on a personal note, the distribution of MAGA hats among would suggest otherwise.
Beyond Greenland
Greenland was not the only bizarre claim Trump has made lately. He proposed renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America”, aligning with the combative rhetoric about drug smuggling and illegal immigration from Mexico. Additionally, the tycoon threatened to regain possession of the Panama Canal, a paramount international trade hub, and Canada, and Canada, which would provide the US with a direct access to the Arctic routes.
Si vis pacem para bellum - if you want peace, prepare for war. This ancient saying seems to resonate with Trump, given the campaign promises to end ongoing wars in the Middle East and Ukraine. However, his latest comments on Greenland, the Gulf of Mexico, Canada and the Panama Canal suggest anything but a peaceful approach, demonstrating instead a rather interventionist stance regarding these territories.
US national security interests
Greenland has made international headlines lately due to Trump’s declarations about acquiring the island, either through purchase or other means. This is actually no news. Trump had already made his intentions clear in 2019 stating that buying Greenland was a large real estate deal. Apparently, Trump hasn’t changed his mind since then, but the acquisition of the island now appears linked to national security concerns. It’s worth notice that the US maintains a permanent military presence in Greenland at Thule Air base, which is the northeast base controlled by the US Space Force base. “The ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity” citing the potential threat to the US caused by the melting of Arctic glaciers that would shorten the distance with Russia. Greenland’s vast reserves of rare metals make it an eyed-on asset for China too.
A Danish “colony”
Greenland has been under Danish rule for centuries and nowadays, despite enjoying a large autonomy, is still tied to Denmark. The island is entitled to self-government and has control over domestic issues and domestic resources, however it still relies on the mother country for some national defence and security reasons.
Denmark’s reaction has not been long in coming: the King of Denmark, Frederic X, just following Trump’s declarations, updated the centuries-old design of the Danish coat of arms now displaying a larger Greenland. Danish Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, said “Greenland is not for sale”. Following the same line, Greenland’s Prime Minister Múte Bourup Egede, who has long been advocating for the island’s autonomy from Denmark, asserted that “we want to be Greenlanders” but he is determined to maintain an open dialogue with the US administration, urging respect for the country’s aspirations for independence.
Uncertainty persists whether Trump’s administration will pursue this claim in the future. Nonetheless, echoing his father’s declarations, Trump Jr, the future President’s eldest, jumped on Trump Force One and flew to Greenland for what seemed an institutional visit to the territory. Despite being denied by Trump’s son himself who declared he was just visiting the country on a personal note, the distribution of MAGA hats among would suggest otherwise.
Beyond Greenland
Greenland was not the only bizarre claim Trump has made lately. He proposed renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America”, aligning with the combative rhetoric about drug smuggling and illegal immigration from Mexico. Additionally, the tycoon threatened to regain possession of the Panama Canal, a paramount international trade hub, and Canada, and Canada, which would provide the US with a direct access to the Arctic routes.