US President-elect Donald Trump delivers remarks at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, US, January 7, 2025.
Carlos Barria | Reuters
President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday he declined to rule out using the U.S. military to take control of the Panama Canal and Greenland, expanding on a flurry of recent remarks about gaining more territory for the United States during his second term.
“We need them for economic security,” Trump said of both the Central American trade route and the autonomous territory of Denmark during a lengthy news conference at his Florida home, Mar-a-Lago.
A reporter asked Trump if he could assure the public that he would not use military or economic coercion to pursue any of these lands.
“No, I can't assure you about either of those two,” the president-elect replied.
“The Panama Canal was built for our military. “I'm not going to commit to it, no… You might have to do something,” he said.
Trump also expressed concern and frustration over China's activities in both the Panama Canal and Greenland, sending a potential signal to the powerful U.S. adversary about its own efforts to expand its global reach.
The canal is “operated by China,” he said. “We didn't give it to China and they abused it.”
At the same press conference, Trump announced that his administration would seek to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the “American Gulf.”
“What a beautiful name. And it is appropriate,” he said.
The rich in crude oil a body of water is the ninth largest in the worldand was identified on maps as the Gulf of Mexico since 1500.
Since winning the November presidential election, Trump has repeatedly considered annexing territories, especially the Panama Canal. He criticized former President Jimmy Carter, who died on December 29, for negotiating a treaty that ultimately gave Panama full control of the 51-kilometer waterway.
The Republican, who will take office in less than two weeks, has also expressed interest in making Canada the “51st.” state.”
However, he said on Tuesday that he was considering putting only economic, not military, pressure on the U.S. ally and major trading partner.
“That would be really something,” he said of Canada being absorbed by the United States. “Get rid of that artificially drawn line and look at what it looks like, it would be much better for national security as well.”
Trump complained about the U.S. trade deficit with Canada, saying: “It's fine if you're a state, but if you're another country, we don't want it.”
Trump threatened to impose big tariffs regarding import from Canada, the second largest trading partner from the USA
However, Trump said there would be “no tariffs” on Canada if it became an American state Social truth write on Monday. He made the comment following a statement from worried Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will give way as leader of the country.
Trump's expansionist comments were sometimes met with ridicule.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford jokingly presented a counteroffer on Monday Canada will buy Alaska and other U.S. states before concluding, “This is unrealistic.”
And Trudeau wrote on X on Tuesday afternoon: “There is absolutely no chance of Canada becoming part of the United States.”
Greenland's Prime Minister, Mute Egede, firmly said in December that the island was “not for sale and it will never be for sale.”
Trump's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., reportedly arrived in the Greenland capital of Nuuk on Tuesday to create media content.
His father, v A real social post the previous day, he said that Trump Jr. he was there to “visit some of the most wonderful places and monuments”.
“Greenland is an amazing place and people will benefit greatly if and when it becomes part of our nation,” Trump wrote.