(WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.)
Donald Trump seems to have his sights set on Greenland once again, reigniting discussions he initiated during his first term when he expressed interest in the U.S. purchasing the territory from Denmark. This renewed pursuit adds to the growing list of tensions with allied nations even before he officially takes office on January 20.
In a recent announcement introducing his ambassador to Denmark, Trump emphasized that “For purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity.”
This latest focus on Greenland follows Trump’s weekend remarks about possibly reclaiming control over the Panama Canal if rising shipping costs continue to burden U.S. interests. He suggested that action may be necessary to address financial challenges related to the vital waterway that connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
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Moreover, Trump has floated the idea of Canada becoming the 51st state, humorously referring to its Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, as the “governor” of the “Great State of Canada.” This rhetoric has raised eyebrows and sparked discussions about his approach to international relations.
Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia, noted that Trump’s provocative stance towards friendly countries mirrors a negotiation style he employed during his business career. “You ask for something unreasonable, and it’s more likely you can secure something less unreasonable,” he explained. Farnsworth is also the author of “Presidential Communication and Character.”
Greenland, the largest island in the world, is strategically located between the Atlantic and Arctic oceans. It is predominantly covered by an ice sheet and hosts a significant U.S. military presence. Having achieved home rule from Denmark in 1979, Greenland’s current leader, Múte Bourup Egede, has made it clear that Trump’s attempts to assert U.S. control over the territory are futile, stating, “Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and will never be for sale. We must not lose our years-long fight for freedom.”
In 2019, Trump canceled a planned visit to Denmark after his proposal to purchase Greenland was dismissed by Danish officials. Now, he has reignited the conversation, highlighting the Panama Canal as another area of contention, claiming the U.S. is being “ripped off” in its dealings there.
“If the principles, both moral and legal, of this magnanimous gesture of giving are not followed, then we will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to the United States of America, in full, quickly and without question,” he proclaimed.
Panama’s President, José Raúl Mulino, countered in a video message that “every square meter of the canal belongs to Panama and will continue to,” prompting Trump to respond on social media with, “We’ll see about that!”
Additionally, Trump shared an image of a U.S. flag placed in the canal zone, captioned “Welcome to the United States Canal!” The historical context reveals that the U.S. constructed the canal in the early 1900s but transferred control to Panama on December 31, 1999, under a treaty signed by President Jimmy Carter.
The canal’s operation has been affected by drought conditions in 2023, which limited the number of ships able to transit and resulted in increased fees for those seeking to reserve passage.
Trump’s comments about Greenland and the Panama Canal coincide with his recent assertion that “Canadians want Canada to become the 51st State,” accompanied by a photo of himself on a mountaintop beside a Canadian flag.
Trudeau has suggested that Trump was joking about annexing Canada, though they recently met at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort to discuss potential trade tariffs that could impact Canadian goods.
Farnsworth pointed out, “Canada is not going to become part of the United States, but Trump’s remarks seem aimed at leveraging negotiations and unsettling Canada’s political landscape, especially given its current political climate.” He added that this strategy might yield concessions on trade, border security, or other issues.
The same logic applies to Trump’s ambitions regarding Greenland, according to Farnsworth. “What Trump seeks is a win. Even if the American flag doesn’t fly over Greenland, European leaders might be more inclined to agree to other requests due to the pressure he applies,” he concluded.
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Associated Press Writer Gary Fields in Washington contributed to this report.
