Trump’s Plans to Buy Greenland and Reclaim Panama Canal Spark Global Backlash
President-elect Donald Trump’s recent statements about purchasing Greenland from Denmark and reclaiming control of the Panama Canal have ignited international criticism and concerns over U.S. foreign policy.
On December 22, Trump announced his nominee for ambassador to Denmark via his social media platform, Truth Social. In the announcement, he declared that “the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity” for the United States, citing reasons of national security and freedom.
This isn’t the first time Trump has expressed interest in acquiring Greenland. Back in 2019, during his first term, he suggested purchasing the world’s largest island, viewing it as a significant real estate opportunity. Denmark’s Prime Minister at the time dismissed the idea as “absurd,” leading to tensions between the two nations.
Greenland’s Prime Minister, Mute Egede, responded firmly to Trump’s renewed interest. “We are not for sale and will never be for sale,” Egede stated. “Greenland is ours. We must not lose our years-long fight for freedom.”
In response to the U.S. president-elect’s remarks, Denmark announced plans to increase defense spending in Greenland to strengthen its presence in the Arctic region.
Simultaneously, Trump threatened to “reclaim” the Panama Canal, a crucial maritime trade route connecting the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. In a Truth Social post on December 21, he criticized the “exorbitant prices and rates of passage” imposed on U.S. vessels and warned that the “rip-off” would “immediately stop.”
Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino rejected Trump’s statements, emphasizing that “every square meter of the Panama Canal and its adjacent area belong to Panama and will continue belonging to Panama.” He defended the canal’s toll-setting process as transparent and fair.
The Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America-People’s Trade Treaty, a regional bloc, condemned Trump’s comments as an “act of aggression” against Panama’s sovereignty.
Analysts argue that Trump’s threats could damage U.S. credibility and destabilize international relations. Ben Cardin, chair of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, expressed concern, stating, “Our allies don’t know whether we are reliable partners or not.”
Historical context shows that the United States previously held control over the Panama Canal until its handover to Panama on December 31, 1999. The canal has since been under Panamanian control, following the Torrijos-Carter Treaties signed in 1977.
Experts suggest that while Trump’s statements may be intended to pressure other countries, they are unlikely to result in actual territorial acquisitions. Darrell West, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, remarked, “There is little support for those ideas in the international community or in the locales themselves.”
As Trump prepares to take office once again, his aggressive foreign policy proposals have raised questions about the future of international cooperation and stability.
Reference(s):
What does Trump want from threats at Greenland, Panama Canal?
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