Trump refuses to rule out military action over Panama Canal, Greenland

PALM BEACH, United States: Donald Trump on Tuesday refused to rule out military intervention over the Panama Canal and Greenland, both of which he has said he wants the United States to control.

“I can say this, we need them for economic security,” the incoming US president told reporters.

“I am not going to commit to that (no military action). It might be that you have to do something.”

The remarks came during a rambling session with journalists at his Florida resort home and will probably set off diplomatic alarm bells around the world as Trump prepares to return to the White House later this month with an agenda of muscular American nationalism.

Trump claimed the Panama Canal, which was transferred to Panamanian control in 1999 under a 1977 treaty, was being “operated by China”, an assertion that comes amid his repeated calls for the strategic waterway to be returned to US control.

“The Panama Canal was built for our military,” Trump said. “Look, the Panama Canal is vital to our country. It’s being operated by China. China! And we gave the Panama Canal to Panama, we didn’t give it to China.”

When it came to Greenland, Trump threatened economic retaliation against Denmark, noting that if they resisted his territorial ambitions he “would tariff Denmark at a very high level”.

His tough talk also extended due north to Canada, which he similarly threatened with “very serious tariffs” while dismissing its military capabilities.

Donald Trump vowed on Tuesday to use economic force against Canada as he pursues his unlikely plan for the country to merge with the United States.

Asked if he would use military force, the incoming US president said “no, economic force.”

“Canada and the United States, that would really be something. You get rid of that artificially drawn line and you take a look at what that looks like. And it would also be much better for national security.”

“Canada is subsidized to the tune of about $200bn a year, plus other things. They don’t essentially have a military. They have a very small military. They rely on our military,” Trump said. His comments came as his son, Donald Trump Jr, touched down in Greenland’s capital, Nuuk, where he reportedly distributed “Make Greenland Great Again” hats despite claiming to be visiting purely as a tourist.

Video footage showed the former US president addressing a group over lunch during a call to his son’s phone, saying, “We’re going to treat you well.”

The dual focus on Panama and Greenland represents a cryptic attempt to expand US territorial control in the name of national and economic security. While the Panama Canal was previously under US control, Greenland remains an autonomous territory of Denmark that has repeatedly rejected American overtures.