US President-elect Donald Trump has refused to rule out the possibility of using military or economic force to take over the Panama Canal and Greenland. Trump, who takes office on January 20, floated the idea of turning Canada into a US state at a press conference at his Florida resort and promised to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.
Two weeks before taking office, Trump began outlining an aggressive foreign policy, regardless of concerns from US allies.
Asked if he could guarantee that he would not use military or economic force to try to establish control over the Panama Canal and Greenland, Trump said he could not say for sure.
“I can only say that we need them for economic security,” he added.
Trump has criticized US spending on Canadian goods and military support for Canada, saying the US does not benefit from them, and has called the border between the two countries an “artificially drawn line.”
He has indicated that he will impose tariffs on Denmark if it resists his offer to buy Greenland, which he has said is vital to U.S. national security.
Denmark has said that Greenland, a self-governing part of its kingdom, is not for sale. Trump’s comments came shortly after his son, Don Jr., arrived in Greenland for a private visit.
