Trump does not rule out the use of the US military to control the Panama Canal and Greenland

The elected president Donald Trump on Tuesday refused to rule out the use of the US military to take control of the Panama Canal and Greenland, extending a wave of recent remarks about acquiring 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 Danish territory during a lengthy press conference at his Florida home in Mar-a-Lago.

The reporter asked Trump if he could assure the public that he would not use military or economic coercion to pursue land.

“No, I can’t assure you of either of those two,” the president-elect replied.

“The Panama Canal was built for our military. I’m not going to take it upon myself, no … Maybe you’ll 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 possible signal to the powerful US 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 said that his administration would seek to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the “American Gulf.”

“What a beautiful name. And it’s fitting,” he said.

The rich in oil a pond is ninth in the worldand was identified on maps as the Gulf of Mexico since the 1500s.

After winning the presidential election in November, Trump repeatedly discussed the annexation of territories, especially the Panama Canal. He criticized former President Jimmy Carter, who died on Dec. 29, for negotiating the treaty that eventually gave Panama full control of the 51-mile waterway.

The Republican, who will take office in less than two weeks, has also expressed interest in making Canada the “51st state.”

But on Tuesday he said he was considering using only economic, not military, pressure on a US ally and major trading partner.

“That would really be something,” he said of Canada being absorbed into the United States. “You get rid of that artificially drawn line and look at what that looks like, and it’s going to be much better for national security as well.”

Trump complained about the US trade deficit with Canada, saying: “It’s fine if you’re a state, but if you’re another country, we don’t want to have that.”

Trump threatened to introduce large tariffs on import from Canada, art second largest trading partner from the USA

But if Canada became a US state, there would be no tariffs against Canada, Trump said Social truth post monday. He posted this comment after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced he will leave as the head of the country.

Trump’s expansionist comments were sometimes met with derision.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford jokingly offered a counterproposal on Monday Canada will buy Alaska and other US states before concluding, “It’s not realistic.”

And Trudeau wrote on X on Tuesday afternoon: “There’s not a chance in hell that Canada is going to be part of the United States.”

Greenland Prime Minister Mute Egede categorically stated in December that the island “not for sale and will never be for sale.’

Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., landed in the Greenlandic capital of Nuuk on Tuesday, reportedly to create media content.

His father, in a Social post “Truth”. said the day before that Trump Jr. was there to “visit some of the most wonderful areas and attractions.”

“Greenland is an incredible place and the people will benefit tremendously if and when it becomes part of our country,” Trump wrote.