(WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.) — The President-elect is again pursuing the acquisition of Greenland, adding to his pre-inauguration disputes with allies.
In a Sunday announcement of his Danish ambassador nominee, Trump declared that Greenland’s control is crucial for global security and freedom.
This renewed interest in Greenland follows Trump’s weekend suggestion of reclaiming control of the Panama Canal to alleviate rising shipping costs.
He has also proposed Canada’s admission as the 51st U.S. state, referring to Prime Minister Trudeau as the governor of a “Great State of Canada.”
Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington, suggests Trump’s approach reflects his past business tactics.
Farnsworth, author of “Presidential Communication and Character,” explains that making unreasonable demands increases the likelihood of achieving less extreme outcomes.
Greenland, the world’s largest island, is 80% ice-covered and hosts a significant U.S. military base. It gained home rule from Denmark in 1979, and its leader, Múte Bourup Egede, dismissed Trump’s claims as meaningless.
“Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and will never be for sale,” Egede stated. “We must not lose our years-long fight for freedom.”
Trump’s previous attempt to purchase Greenland was rejected by Copenhagen, ultimately failing.
He also claimed Sunday that the U.S. is unfairly charged at the Panama Canal.
“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 said.
Panama’s President responded in a video affirming Panama’s ownership of the canal, to which Trump retorted, “We’ll see about that!”
The President-elect also posted an image of a U.S. flag planted in the canal zone, captioned, “Welcome to the United States Canal!”
The U.S. constructed the canal in the early 1900s, relinquishing control to Panama on Dec. 31, 1999, under a 1977 treaty.
The canal’s reservoirs were affected by 2023 droughts, causing reduced daily slots and increased fees for shippers.
The Greenland and Panama disputes follow Trump’s recent assertion that Canadians desire statehood and an image of himself overlooking Canadian territory.
Trudeau addressed the annexation proposal, but the two met recently at Mar-a-Lago to discuss Trump’s trade tariff threats against Canada.
Farnsworth notes that Trump’s comments aim to pressure Canada for concessions, exploiting its current political vulnerability.
He suggests a similar strategy applies to Greenland.
“What Trump wants is a win,” Farnsworth said. “And even if the American flag doesn’t raise over Greenland, Europeans may be more willing to say yes to something else because of the pressure.”
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Associated Press Writer Gary Fields in Washington contributed to this report.
