Trump’s Wish to Control Greenland and Panama Canal: Not a Joke This Time

In the last two days, President-elect Donald J. Trump has openly expressed his ambitions for territorial expansion, stating that the United States has both security and commercial concerns best addressed by bringing the Panama Canal and Greenland under American control or ownership.https://wordpress.com/

Trump’s statements have lacked the playful tone of his recent comments about making Canada the “51st state,” which included social media posts mocking Canada’s prime minister, Justin Trudeau, as “Governor Justin Trudeau.” Instead, when appointing a new ambassador to Denmark — which handles Greenland’s foreign and defense matters — Trump indicated that his prior offer to purchase Greenland might become an offer the Danes cannot refuse in the near future.

Trump’s interest in Greenland is driven by both its strategic position, particularly as Arctic ice melts and opens up new commercial and military competition, and its wealth of rare earth minerals critical for advanced technologies. On social media, he declared, “For the sake of National Security and Global Freedom, the United States believes that owning and controlling Greenland is an absolute necessity.”

On Saturday, Trump also accused Panama of overcharging American vessels passing through the canal and threatened to annul the Jimmy Carter-era treaty that handed full control of the canal to Panama, unless fees were reduced. He described the fees as “ridiculous” and vowed that such “rip-offs” would cease immediately.

Trump voiced concerns about the canal falling into the “wrong hands,” seemingly alluding to China, which is the second-largest user of the canal. A Hong Kong-based firm controls two ports near the canal, though China does not control the canal itself.

In response, the Greenland government rejected Trump’s demands, echoing its stance from 2019 when Trump first proposed the idea. Prime Minister Mute B. Egede firmly stated, “Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and will never be for sale. Our long struggle for freedom must not be lost.”

Denmark’s prime minister was more measured in response, saying that Denmark was “looking forward to working with the new administration” but offered no comment on Trump’s statements.

Following Trump’s renewed comments about the Panama Canal on Sunday, Panama’s President José Raúl Mulino released a video asserting, “Every square meter of the Panama Canal and its adjacent zones is part of Panama, and it will remain so.” He further emphasized, “Our country’s sovereignty and independence are not negotiable.”

Trump’s remarks — and the implicit threats contained within them — are another reminder that his “America First” doctrine is not about isolationism. Rather, it reflects an expansionist mindset reminiscent of President Theodore Roosevelt, who solidified U.S. control over the Philippines following the Spanish-American War. It also reflects Trump’s real estate background, where bold negotiations backed by the world’s largest military force shape his strategy.

Trump has shown that he does not always view other nations’ sovereignty as inviolable. When Russia invaded Ukraine, Trump’s initial response was to describe President Vladimir Putin’s actions as “genius,” rather than condemning the violation of Ukraine’s borders. Even as he seeks a resolution to the war in Ukraine, Trump has not insisted on restoring Ukraine’s borders, which is a central demand of both the U.S. and NATO.

Both commercial and national security considerations play a role in Trump’s interest in Greenland and Panama.

Trump’s desire for Greenland was first articulated during his first term, when his friend Ronald S. Lauder, a New York cosmetics heir, reportedly encouraged him to pursue the acquisition. In 2019, the National Security Council began examining the logistics of such a deal, although Denmark firmly rejected Trump’s proposal.

This is not the first time the U.S. has pursued Greenland. After World War II, President Harry S. Truman sought to buy Greenland as part of a Cold War strategy to counter Soviet influence. Trump’s position can be seen in a similar light, especially with Russia, China, and the U.S. vying for control of Arctic shipping routes and military assets.

Arctic security experts did not dismiss Trump’s interest in Greenland as a mere joke. “Not that many people are laughing about it now,” said Marc Jacobsen, an associate professor at the Royal Danish Defense College. He noted that while Denmark’s reaction was one of anger, some Greenlanders might see Trump’s interest as an opportunity to strengthen economic ties with the U.S. — particularly in sectors like tourism and rare earth mining.

Since 2009, Greenland has had the legal right to declare independence, though its small population of about 56,000 remains heavily dependent on Denmark and has not pursued full independence. Trump’s interest could present an opportunity for greater U.S. investment in Greenland’s economy.

Sherri Goodman, a former Pentagon official and senior fellow at the Wilson Center Polar Institute, highlighted that Greenland holds significant undeveloped natural resources, including more than 43 of the 50 critical rare earth elements used in green technologies like electric vehicles and wind turbines. While China currently has an edge in processing these minerals, Goodman noted that Greenland could become a major competitor if it chose to develop its resources.

However, Goodman warned that Greenland’s Indigenous communities may not support large-scale mining and resource extraction. “It’s highly unlikely that resource extraction could be imposed on an unwilling population,” she said. “A more constructive approach would involve collaborating with the Danish government and Greenland’s people on sustainable development.”

Trump’s desire for both Greenland and the Panama Canal thus reflects a mix of strategic and economic interests, underscoring his “America First” ideology, which often blurs the lines between commercial, security, and geopolitical considerations.