Why does Trump want to “buy” Greenland?
Trump’s interest in Greenland is not new. During his first term in 2019, he floated the idea of purchasing autonomous Danish territory. He pointed to the island’s strategic location and untapped natural resources. At the time, his proposal was dismissed as “ridiculous” by then-Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, but Trump has since revisited the idea with renewed vigor.
In a statement posted on Truth Social this week, Trump declared that “for the purposes of national security and freedom around the world, the United States believes that ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity.” This announcement coincided with the nomination of Ken Howery, co-founder of PayPal, as US Ambassador to Denmark. Greenland’s Prime Minister, Miot Egedy, responded immediately and said: “Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and will never be for sale. We must not lose our long struggle for independence.”
Danish officials also echoed this sentiment. Former Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen emphasized the importance of Greenland’s sovereignty while expressing its readiness for transatlantic cooperation. Greenland is home to more than 50,000 people. This Arctic ice island has become geopolitically important due to its location and increased access to the Arctic Circle as a result of climate change.
Panama Canal: A rift in relations between the United States and Panama
Trump’s rhetoric has increased regarding the Panama Canal, an important shipping route linking the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. America built this canal at the beginning of the twentieth century. The canal was handed over to Panama under a treaty signed by US President Jimmy Carter in 1999. Speaking at a Turning Point USA event in Phoenix, Trump criticized Panama’s “unfair” tariffs on US ships and called for the canal to be restored. “The Panama Canal must be returned to us in full, quickly and without a doubt,” he declared. He said Panama must fulfill its “moral and legal” obligations or face the consequences.
Panamanian President Jose Raul Molino had a strong reaction to this. In defense of Panama’s sovereignty and the successful operation of the canal under Panamanian administration, he said that “every square meter of the Panama Canal and the surrounding area was and always will be the property of Panama.” Molyneux also rejected Trump’s claims about Chinese influence over the canal, calling them baseless. He added: “Neither China, nor the European Union, nor the United States, nor any other power has any control, directly or indirectly, over the canal.”
However, Trump posted a photo of the American flag on the channel on social media, writing in the caption: “Welcome to the USA channel!” The canal is widely used by the US Navy and merchant ships, and is vital to global trade. Trump’s speech has revived discussions about its strategic importance, while Panamanian officials strongly oppose any threat to their sovereignty.
Canada: The 51st state in America
Donald Trump never misses an opportunity to fire up Canada. He first addressed Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in his capacity as Governor. Trump then joked about the possibility of annexing Canada and making it the 51st state of the United States after dining with Justin Trudeau at his Mar-a-Lago resort. He wrote in a social media post that Canada should become the 51st state in America and I think it is a great idea. Trump had previously threatened to impose 25% tariffs on Canada as soon as he assumed office.
