Trump’s Return: The Provocative and Puzzling Resurgence of His US Foreign Policy
In a bold and headline-grabbing speech outlining his regional ambitions for the United States, incoming U.S. leader Donald Trump delivered plenty of bluster but few details leaving many wondering how seriously to take his remarks.
At a fiery press conference at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, Trump stated that he would not rule out using military or economic pressure to acquire Greenland and the Panama Canal. He also vowed to “bring Canada to its knees,” calling the border with America a “man-made line” and promising to rename the Gulf of Mexico to “America’s Gulf.”
The freewheeling press conference brought back memories of many of Trump’s provocative statements from his first term. At that time, he had encouraged Russia to “do whatever they want” with NATO allies and referred to North Korea’s leader as “Rocketman on a suicide mission.”
Mixed Reactions from the UN
The United Nations received Trump’s latest comments with little enthusiasm. UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, told reporters: “The UN Charter is very clear that every member state must respect the territorial integrity of other states.”
Threats to Panama and Greenland
Regarding the Panama Canal, which was built by the United States and handed over to Panama 25 years ago, Trump said it was of vital importance to the U.S. “Look, the Panama Canal is critical to our country. It’s being operated by China—China! And we gave the Panama Canal to Panama, not to China,” Trump claimed. “And they’ve misused that gift.”
Panama has repeatedly denied Trump’s allegations that China has any role in running the canal or receives preferential rates for its use.
On Greenland, a self-governing territory of long-time U.S. ally Denmark, Trump said, “We need Greenland for national security purposes.”
Trump also promised that Canada would soon face similar scrutiny. “Get rid of that artificially drawn line, and you’ll see how much better it looks. It’s better for national security too,” he added.
Familiar Themes, New Focus
While Trump’s fixation on the Panama Canal is relatively new, his interest in Greenland isn’t. During his first term, he had floated the idea of purchasing the island, which was met with swift rejection by local authorities. Incidentally, his son, Donald Trump Jr., arrived in Denmark on a private trip on Tuesday.
Although Trump refrained from suggesting military action against Canada, the country faced political turmoil on Monday when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced plans to step down. Trump hinted that Canada should consider becoming the 51st U.S. state and threatened to use “economic force” against Ottawa.
Trudeau’s response was firm: “There is absolutely no chance that Canada will become part of the United States.” However, his government is preparing for the possibility that Trump may impose a 25% tariff on Canadian imports.
Is This Strategy or Serious Intent?
During his first term, Trump frequently accused U.S. allies, especially NATO, of taking advantage of their partnerships with America and demanded they pay their fair share.
It remains unclear whether Trump, whose inauguration is set for January 20, is genuinely considering expanding U.S. territory through military force or if such statements are simply a bargaining strategy to extract economic or political concessions.