Trump’s world domination plan: annex Canada, invade Greenland
Trump 2.0 reloaded
Donald Trump’s second term in the White House seems more alarming than his first one. While the president-elect is famous for making controversial threats, this time he seems a bit more “out of it” than usual.
Wild imperialist dreams
From using military force in Greenland and Panama (illegal moves that could be characterized as invasions), to annexing Canada, making it the “51st state” of the USA, Trump’s imperialist dreams keep getting wilder.
Annexing Canada
Trump has joked before about turning Canada into the 51st state of the US. But recently, the threat has become more serious, as he said Tuesday during a press conference that he wanted to acquire its northern neighbor through “economic force”, according to USA Today.
Getting rid of that “artificially drawn line”
"Canada and the United States, that would really be something. You get rid of that artificially drawn line (…) and it would also be much better for national security," Trump reportedly said.
“They should be a state”
He added that the US spends billions of dollars protecting Canada, and he criticised imports of Canadian cars, lumber and dairy products. "They should be a state," he told reporters, according to the BBC.
“No chance”
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who had just announced his resignation, said, "there isn’t a snowball’s chance in h*** that Canada would become part of the United States”, in an X post.
Invading Greenland and Panama
During the same press conference, when asked by a reporter if he ruled out using military or economic force in order to take over Greenland or the Panama Canal, Trump responded: "No, I can't assure you on either of those two, but I can say this: we need them for economic security,” CNN reported.
Greenland’s strategic location and rare minerals
Greenland lies on the shortest route from North America to Europe and is home to a large American space facility. It also has some of the largest deposits of rare earth minerals, which are crucial in the manufacture of batteries and high-tech devices.
“Protecting the free world”
Trump suggested the island is crucial to military efforts to track Chinese and Russian ships, which he said are "all over the place". "I'm talking about protecting the free world," he told reporters, according to the BBC.
Donald Trump Jr. flew to Greenland
While making these remarks, his son Donald Trump Jr. flew the family’s Boeing to Greenland, with a bobblehead of his father perched on the cockpit control panel. “Make Greenland Great Again!” the president-elect posted on his Truth Social network shortly before his son landed, per CNN.
“Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders”
When asked about Trump Jr's visit to Greenland, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told Danish TV that "Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders" and that only the local population could determine their future.
Trump claims the Panama Canal is “operated by China”
Regarding the Panama Canal, Trump, who has complained before about the high prices US ships have to pay to use the waterway, said that it is “vital” to the country and claimed that it's being “operated by China".
Panamanian president rejects Trump’s claim
According to the BBC, Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino rejected Trump's claims and said there is "absolutely no Chinese interference" in the canal.
A strategy to get better deals for the US?
But, are these threats serious? According to CNN political analyst Stephen Collinson it’s “unlikely” Trump will get what he wants with Canada, Panama or Greenland and says his strategy might be aimed at getting some good deals for the US.
What Trump might be after
“Perhaps a discount for American vessels transiting the Panama Canal, greater American access to rare earth minerals in Greenland and sea routes revealed by melting polar ice, as well as a new trade deal with Canada that might advantage US manufacturers”, Collinson exemplifies.
Aggressively achieving objectives
Moreover, the analyst says that Trump would be sure to portray any of those outcomes as “a massive win only he could have achieved.”
More for you
Top Stories
1
2
3
4
5
World
The American F-35s biggest competitor recently achieved another major milestone
8 january, 2025
World
The M109A6 Paladin is a powerful US artillery gun helping Ukraine against Russia
8 january, 2025
