After the Panama Canal, Donald Trump now wants the USA to buy and control Greenland

After Donald Trump called for the Panama Canal to be returned to US control, the president-elect has now stated that he wants to buy and control Greenland, claiming it is an “absolute necessity.” Greenland is part of the North American continent but is controlled by Denmark.

“In the interests of national security and freedom around the world, the United States of America believes ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. Although Greenland has autonomous self-government, it is still part of the Kingdom of Denmark.

The 78-year-old Republican leader made the statement as he appointed PayPal co-founder Ken Howery as US ambassador to Denmark.

Trump’s renewed interest in Greenland is not new, as the president-elect expressed his desire to control the territory during his first term in office from 2017 to 2021.

In 2019, Trump indicated that he wanted to buy Greenland, primarily attracted by the country’s natural resources and geopolitical relevance. However, his request was met with strong backlash from leading politicians in Denmark. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said “Greenland is not for sale.”

“Greenland is not for sale. Greenland is not Danish. Greenland is part of Greenland. I really hope that this is not meant seriously,” said Frederiksen during a visit to the island in 2019.

In response, Trump canceled a meeting with Frederiksen in Denmark over her comments on the proposed Greenland deal.

The United States has its own space base, Pituffik Space Base (formerly known as Thule Air Base), on the northwest coast of Greenland.

Greenland is located in the North Atlantic and is the largest island in the world that is not a continent. Its strategic location puts it near the Arctic and some countries, including Russia, are vying for control of the area.

Although Greenland is part of the North American continent, it has geopolitical connections to Europe. It received EU funding because it is classified as an overseas territory linked to the bloc through Denmark, Axios reported.

Trump’s comments on the Panama Canal

Trump’s comments on Greenland came after he threatened Panama to return control of the Panama Canal to the US if the Latin American country continued to charge “ridiculous” transit fees for American ships.

Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino sharply rebuked Trump and said his country’s independence was non-negotiable. He defended the transit fees imposed by Panama, claiming they were not set “on a whim,” Reuters reported.

The United States completed construction of the canal in 1914 and administered it until December 31, 1999. On that date, control of the canal was officially transferred to Panama, a sovereign country, based on treaties signed in 1997. The USA is the largest user of the channel.