World
Expansionist remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump ring alarm bells
By Ma Miaomiao  ·  2025-01-20  ·   Source: NO.4 JANUARY 23, 2025
Scenery of Nuuk, capital of Greenland, a self-governing Danish territory, on October 19, 2024 (XINHUA)

Less than two weeks before his inauguration as the 47th President of the United States on January 20, Donald Trump took advantage of the wide-ranging news conference following the Congress certifying his victory in the 2024 presidential election to declare: "I am back."

During the conference at Mar-a-Lago, Florida, on January 7, Trump said he would not rule out using military or economic action to acquire Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark.

This controversy has drawn widespread opposition from European leaders and fueled concerns about Trump's motivations, as well as the future of transatlantic relations.

Not for sale

"We need Greenland for national security purposes," Trump said at the news conference, adding he would consider imposing tariffs on Denmark "at a very high level" if it resisted his offer to acquire the territory.

On the same day, his eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., visited Nuuk, capital of Greenland, describing the trip as a private tourism visit. "We are just here as tourists, to see it all," he told reporters upon his arrival.

But his father had a different tone on his own social media platform Truth Social. "Don Jr. and my Reps landing in Greenland. The reception has been great. They, and the Free World, need safety, security, and PEACE! This is a deal that must happen. MAGA. MAKE GREENLAND GREAT AGAIN!"

Trump's interest in the island dates back to his first presidential term. In 2019, he proposed purchasing the territory, a move swiftly rejected and dismissed as "absurd" by Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.

Five years after rejecting Trump's ambition, Frederiksen reiterated this time that the island is "not for sale and will not be in the future either," adding "I don't think it's a good way forward to fight each other with financial means when we are close allies and partners."

Greenland's Prime Minister Mute Egede voiced a similar sentiment. "Greenland belongs to Greenlanders. Our future is ours to shape," he posted on social media platform Facebook.

Greenland, the world's largest island with a population of around 60,000, was a Danish colony until 1953. Then it became an integral part of Denmark, granting Greenlanders Danish citizenship. The island achieved home rule in 1979, gaining greater self-governance while Denmark retained authority over foreign and defense policies.

Its vast natural resources, including oil, gas and rare earth elements, along with its location in the Arctic Circle, make it a key player in the region with great strategic value.

The U.S. has a history of interest in the island due to its strategic location and abundant natural resources. U.S. President Andrew Johnson wanted to buy it in 1867, until the idea was blocked by lawmakers. President Harry Truman made an attempt in 1946 by offering Denmark $100 million in gold, aiming to enhance U.S. security during the early stages of the Cold War.

Although Denmark declined the offer, the U.S. has been maintaining a permanent presence in Greenland by establishing the Pituffik Space Base in the island's northwest.

Denmark has no reason to believe Trump would act on his statements, according to Frederiksen.

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said, "We should take him seriously, but not literally."

Dutch newspaper Trouw also warned of potential NATO complications if the U.S. pursued military action against Denmark, a fellow member of the military alliance.

The inviolability of borders is a fundamental principle of international law, which applies to every country, regardless of its size or power, according to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. In discussions with European partners, there was a lack of understanding regarding recent statements from the U.S., he added.

"There is obviously no question that the EU would let other nations of the world attack its sovereign borders, whoever they are," French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot told France Inter radio. "We are a strong continent."

"It is unacceptable to suggest the use of military force against an ally or to imply intentions to claim territories under another nation's sovereignty," Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store told the country's national broadcaster NRK, worrying about the potential threat to NATO unity and European stability.

Widened divisions

Trump's other expansionist remarks include plans to make Canada a U.S. state, retake control of the Panama Canal—a major shipping route between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, and rename the Gulf of Mexico to the "Gulf of America," a name he said has a "beautiful ring to it."

Hitting back at Trump's proposal, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum suggested that North America be renamed "America Mexicana" or "Mexican America" during her daily press briefing on January 8, citing an 1814 document predating Mexico's Constitution that used this name for the region, according to NBC News.

She also said the Gulf of Mexico has been known as such since 1607, with the UN officially recognizing the name.

In mid-December 2024, Trump floated the idea of retaking control of the Panama Canal if Panama does not decrease toll rates for U.S. ships crossing the artificial waterway connecting the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.

The canal remained under control of the U.S. until the Torrijos-Carter Treaties, signed by the U.S. and Panama in 1977, expired on December 31, 1999, when the U.S. returned the complete administration of the canal to Panama.

Panama has repeatedly rebuked Trump's threats. "I want to express precisely that every square meter of the Panama Canal and its adjacent area belong to Panama, and will continue belonging to Panama," Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino posted on social media platform X.

In a recent joint statement, over 20 former foreign ministers from more than 10 Latin American countries have expressed their support for Panama, saying Panama's sovereignty and independence over the Panama Canal are "not negotiable."

"It is indisputable that the Republic of Panama and its people have managed the Canal responsibly, guaranteeing its contribution to international maritime trade and global economic development, which constitutes a symbol of Latin American autonomy and pride," according to the joint statement.

Trump has repeatedly raised the idea of making Canada "the 51st state" since winning the presidential election, suggesting he might consider using economic pressure to acquire Canada.

In response, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Trump's proposal was a tactic to draw attention away from the potential impact of his proposed tariffs. Trump has long been complaining about Canada's trade surplus with the U.S. and has threatened to impose a 25-percent tariff on Canadian imports.

"...President Trump, who is a very skillful negotiator, is getting people to be somewhat distracted by that conversation," Trudeau told CNN on January 9.

The outgoing prime minister had previously said there isn't "a snowball's chance in hell that Canada would become part of the United States."

Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said on X that Trump's comments "show a complete lack of understanding of what makes Canada a strong country," adding that "we will never back down in the face of threats."

"If the new U.S. administration tries to annex these lands with military or economic approaches, this would set a dangerous precedent for the world's sole superpower to disregard international laws and norms," Diao Daming, a professor of international relations at Renmin University of China in Beijing, told newspaper Global Times.

"This would be extremely unfair for countries like Denmark, Panama and Canada, and the global order and the international system would be deeply interrupted and fall into greater chaos," he warned.

(Print Edition Title: Greenbacks for Greenland?)

Copyedited by Elsbeth van Paridon

Comments to mamm@cicgamericas.com

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