Greenland, Canals, and Canada: Trump’s Manifest Destiny 2.0

What Happened?

President-elect Donald Trump declared U.S. control of the Panama Canal and Greenland as critical to national security, leaving open the possibility of using military force to secure both territories.

Speaking to reporters ahead of his January 20 inauguration, Trump’s remarks marked a shift from decades of U.S. policy where territorial expansion has not been a major talking point.

When asked if he would rule out military action, Trump responded, 'I’m not going to commit to that. It might be that you’ll have to do something. The Panama Canal is vital to our country. We need Greenland for national security purposes.'

Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark and home to a significant U.S. military base, became the focus of Trump’s attention as he cast doubts on Denmark’s sovereignty over the Arctic island.

Meanwhile, the Panama Canal, which has been under Panamanian control for more than 25 years, was also labeled as essential by Trump. The U.S. formally returned the canal zone in 1979, ending joint control in 1999.

Why it Matters

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen dismissed the likelihood of U.S. military action, calling the U.S. Denmark’s 'closest ally' and stressed the importance of respecting Greenland’s autonomy.

Frederiksen noted that increased U.S. interest in the Arctic was welcome, provided it aligned with Greenlandic and Danish interests.

Amid this, Trump posted a video of his private plane landing in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, highlighting the island’s strategic importance. 'Don Jr. and my reps landing in Greenland. The reception has been great. This is a deal that must happen. MAGA. MAKE GREENLAND GREAT AGAIN!' he wrote on social media.

Greenland’s government, however, clarified that Donald Trump Jr.’s visit was private, and no official meetings were planned with local representatives.

Panama’s Foreign Minister Javier Martínez-Acha reinforced his country’s stance, stating, 'The sovereignty of our canal is not negotiable and is part of our history of struggle and an irreversible conquest.'

Trump also addressed Canada, proposing it join the United States as the 51st state. While ruling out military action, he did threaten 'economic force,' citing the U.S. trade deficit with its northern neighbor.

Canadian leaders dismissed the rhetoric, with outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau bluntly remarking, 'There isn’t a snowball’s chance in hell that Canada would become part of the United States.'

Promising a 'Golden Age of America,' Trump further suggested renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the 'Gulf of America' and pushed for increased NATO spending. He proposed member nations raise defense spending to 5% of their GDP, up from the current 2%.

NATO recently reported that 23 of its 32 member nations are on track to meet the current spending target due to heightened tensions from Russia’s war in Ukraine.

How it Affects You

Trump also criticized outgoing President Joe Biden for undermining his transition by banning offshore energy drilling in federal waters. Biden’s move protected 625 million acres, including areas in Alaska and the Gulf of Mexico, from future oil and gas leasing.

Trump pledged to reverse the action on his first day in office, saying, 'I’ll take it to the courts if we need to.'

As Trump prepares to take office, his comments on territorial expansion, military force, and global alliances signal a bold shift in U.S. foreign policy, likely to stir both domestic and international debate.