• President-elect Donald Trump refused to rule out using military or economic force to secure control of Greenland and the Panama Canal, citing national security and trade interests.
• Trump emphasized Greenland’s value for national security, its untapped wealth in natural resources and the need for the U.S. to exert more influence over the Arctic amid growing Russian activities in the region.
• Trump criticized Panama’s “rip-off” fees for American ships and expressed unease over China’s growing influence near the canal, calling it a threat to U.S. interests.
• Denmark and Panama reaffirmed their sovereignty, with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen stressing respect for Greenlandic autonomy and Panamanian officials declaring their sovereignty over the canal as non-negotiable.

President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday, Jan. 7, refused to rule out the use of military or economic coercion to secure control of Greenland and the Panama Canal.

Speaking at a news conference at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, Trump left open the possibility of using force to assert American control over the Arctic territory of Greenland, an autonomous region of Denmark, and the Panama Canal, a critical global trade route formerly occupied by the United States but currently under Panamanian sovereignty. (Related: Trump warns U.S. could take over Panama Canal if Panama continues to impose “rip-off” passage fees on American ships.)

When pressed by a reporter on whether he would rule out military or economic coercion, Trump responded with a blunt “No,” underscoring his willingness to consider all options.

The Panama Canal, built by the United States between 1904 and 1914, was returned to Panama in 1999 under a treaty signed during the administration of recently deceased former President Jimmy Carter. Greenland, meanwhile, has been a territory of the Kingdom of Denmark since the 18th century, though the U.S. has maintained a strategic military presence there since World War II.

Trump’s comments mark a dramatic escalation of his long-standing interest in acquiring Greenland, which he first sought to purchase during his presidency, and his growing concerns over Chinese influence in Panama.

“We need Greenland for national security purposes,” Trump said during the news conference. “The Panama Canal is vital to our country. I’m not going to commit to [ruling out military force]. It might be that you’ll have to do something.”

Trump’s interest in Greenland is not without precedent. Since 1867, multiple U.S. administrations have considered acquiring the Arctic island, which is rich in natural resources and increasingly strategic as rapidly melting ice opens up new shipping routes and access to untapped natural resource reserves. Russia and China have also intensified their activities in the region, with both nations seeking to expand their influence in the Arctic.

Raheem Kassam, editor-in-chief of the National Pulse, noted that U.S. control of Greenland could enhance missile defense capabilities and provide a critical foothold in the Arctic.

“Greenland is becoming an important territory as Russia and China continue to push for greater influence over the far northern reaches of the globe,” Kassam said.

The Panama Canal, meanwhile, remains a linchpin of global trade, with approximately six percent of the world’s shipping passing through its waters annually. Trump has repeatedly criticized Panama’s warming relations with China, claiming that Beijing operates the canal.

“China controls two ports near the canal,” Trump said. “And they’re operating the canal itself.”

Panama, Denmark reassert sovereignty over their territories

Trump’s comments have drawn sharp rebukes from both Denmark and Panama.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, in an interview with broadcaster TV2, emphasized the importance of the U.S.-Denmark alliance but stressed that any discussions about Greenland must respect the autonomy of its people.

“It must be done in a way that is respectful of the Greenlandic people,” Frederiksen said. “At the same time, it must be done in a way that allows Denmark and the United States to still cooperate in, among other things, NATO.”

Panamanian Foreign Minister Javier Martínez-Acha reiterated that the canal’s sovereignty is non-negotiable.

“The sovereignty of our canal is not negotiable and is part of our history of struggle and an irreversible conquest,” he said.

Watch this Jan. 8 episode of “Brighteon Broadcast News” as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, discusses the national security concerns influencing President-elect Donald Trump’s desire to take control of Greenland and the Panama Canal.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

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Sources include:

TheNationalPulse.com

APNews.com

NYTimes.com

Brighteon.com