President-elect Donald Trump stated he wouldn’t dismiss the possibility of using military force to secure control of the Panama Canal or Greenland, citing their strategic significance to US national security. During a press conference at Mar-a-Lago, he indicated that extreme measures, such as military intervention or economic pressure, could be considered.
Trump asserted that the Panama Canal, which was handed over to Panama in 1999 under a treaty, is now effectively “controlled by China” and should be returned to US ownership. “The Panama Canal is crucial to our country,” he remarked. “It was built for our military, not for China or Panama.”
Regarding Greenland, Trump highlighted its strategic importance and warned Denmark, the island’s owner, of imposing steep tariffs if it opposed his plans. He described Greenland as vital to U.S. national security and suggested that economic pressure could be used to influence Denmark’s stance.
Trump also targeted Canada, criticising its dependence on US military protection. He suggested that Canada receives around USD 200 billion in subsidies and downplayed its military strength, describing it as “very small” in comparison to the US.
He responded, “No, I can’t guarantee either of those two, but I can tell you this: we need them for economic security.” Trump stated that Denmark should relinquish control of Greenland or face high tariffs. He also suggested that the people of Greenland could vote for independence or to join the United States.
He said, “I’m talking about protecting the free world.” Since his election, Trump has consistently voiced his interest in gaining control of the Panama Canal and Greenland. For the first time on January 7, he hinted at using military force to achieve this goal.
In recent weeks, Trump has posted on social media suggesting that Canada should become the 51st state of the US. He even used Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s announcement about his plan to step down as both Prime Minister and Liberal Party leader to reinforce his position that Canada should join the United States.
Greenland, which hosts a significant US military base, is an autonomous territory of Denmark, a long-standing US ally and founding NATO member. Trump questioned the legitimacy of Denmark’s claim to Greenland. The Panama Canal, meanwhile, has been entirely under the control of Panama for over 25 years. The US returned the Panama Canal Zone to Panama in 1979 and ended its joint control over the strategic waterway in 1999.
