Donald Trump will take office as president of the United States on January 20. The Republican based his election campaign on promises to leave the United States out of foreign conflicts, such as the war in Ukraine, on increasing tariffs on foreign trade partners and on rebuilding the national manufacturing industry.
But in recent days he has suggested a more aggressive approach to his foreign policy.
At first he joked that Canada would be another state of the USA, but has since threatened to regain control of the Panama Canal.
He also reiterated his desire, expressed during his first term, to buy the Danish autonomous territory of Greenlandwhich is not for sale.
It is unlikely that the United States will take control of any of these regions, but these statements could indicate that Trump’s “America First” vision includes making flaunting strength as a superpower beyond its borders for the benefit of United States commerce and national security.
On Sunday, Trump said at a conservative conference in Arizona that Panama was charging US ships “ridiculous and highly unfair” fees for using your channel.
After taking charge of the construction of the waterway at the beginning of the 20th century, The United States signed a treaty in the 1970s to hand over full control to Panama in 1999..
But this week, Trump said that if the “scam” didn’t stop, he would demand that the channel be returned to the United States, although he did not specify how.
Trump added that he did not want the Panama Canal to “fall into the wrong hands” and specifically cited China, which has significant interests there.
“There is a real national security interest of the United States in controlling its neutrality,” Will Freeman, a researcher in Latin American studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, said of Trump’s comments.
“Trump’s statement goes in that direction.”
According to the data, China is the second largest user of the Panama Canal after the United States and also has important economic investments in the country.
China’s influence in Panama
In 2017, Panama cut diplomatic relations with Taiwan and recognized it as part of China, a major victory for Beijing.
The Panama Canal is not only essential for American trade in the Pacific, Freeman said: In case of any military conflict with China, it would be necessary to move ships and other US assets.
He also highlighted Trump’s frequent comments about unfair treatment of the United States by trading partners, as well as the president-elect’s promise to dramatically increase tariffs on foreign goods, particularly those from China.
The Trump complaints about shipping costs They appear to reflect their views on trade, Freeman said.
Although the statements may be “coercive,” Freeman said, it remains to be seen “whether canal authorities will reduce rates on U.S. cargo in response to the threat.”
The president of Panama, José Raúl Mulino, issued a statement saying that the canal and its surroundings belong to his country and will remain that way.
Trump sets his sights on Greenland
Over the weekend, Trump said in a social media post that The United States “feels that ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity” for reasons of national security and global freedom.
The United States maintains the Pituffik space base in Greenland.
The territory is rich in natural resources, including rare earth minerals and oil, and occupies a strategic location for commerceas world powers seek to expand their reach in the Arctic Circle.
Russia, in particular, sees the region as a strategic opportunity.
Trump launched the idea of buying Greenland in 2019during his first term as president, but it never came to fruition.
Greenland Prime Minister Múte B. Egede responded to Trump’s latest comments this week: “We are not for sale and we will not be for sale.”
Still, Trump continued to emphasize his public statements online.
On Truth Social, Trump’s account showed an image of an American flag planted in the middle of the Panama Canal.
His second-eldest son, Eric Trump, posted an X image showing the United States adding Greenland, the Panama Canal and Canada to an Amazon online shopping cart.
For Trump, the promises of using the power of the United States to his advantage helped fuel his two successful presidential campaigns.
It was a tactic he used during his first presidency, threatening tariffs and the deployment of “armed soldiers” to force Mexico to reinforce security along its border with the United States.
Looking ahead to his second term, Trump could plan to use a similar strategy once he takes office on January 20.
Although it remains to be seen what will happen, Denmark has expressed its willingness to work with his administration.
Also announced a huge increase in defense spending for Greenland, hours after Trump repeated his desire to buy the Arctic territory.
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- How Greenland became the center of an economic and geostrategic dispute between the US and China
- What China’s approach to Panama, one of its key allies in Latin America, means for the United States
- Denmark reinforces its defense of Greenland after Trump reiterates his desire to buy the island