President-elect Donald Trump is openly discussing provocative aspirations for U.S. territorial expansion as he prepares to return to the White House, warning about taking over the Panama Canal and wresting control of Greenland from Denmark.
His comments, delivered in public remarks and social-media posts on Sunday, come after he recently trolled Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau by suggesting that Canada should become the 51st state and referring to Trudeau as a governor.
During the recent presidential campaign, Trump said he would deploy the U.S. military to impose a naval embargo on Mexican cartels and order the Pentagon to use American special forces to take down cartel leaders.
Taken together, the president-elect's broadsides signal that he will pursue a confrontational foreign-policy agenda, leveraging unconventional threats and pointed demands in an attempt to gain advantage over allies and adversaries alike.
Trump is often prone to provocation, and it wasn't immediately clear if he would try to follow through on his demands.
But if he does, he is likely to face stiff resistance from world leaders, who would object to any effort to undermine their sovereignty.
"We're being ripped off at the Panama Canal like we're being ripped off everywhere else," Trump said at a conservative conference in Phoenix on Sunday, demanding the return of the state-run canal to the U.S.
"We will never, never let it fall into the wrong hands."
Trump didn't specify how he would take back control of the canal.
His transition team didn't respond to a request for additional comment.
Later Sunday, in a statement announcing his pick for U.S. ambassador to Denmark, Trump signaled his continued interest in taking control of Greenland.
Denne historien er fra December 24, 2024-utgaven av Mint Ahmedabad.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra December 24, 2024-utgaven av Mint Ahmedabad.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
We could expect East Asia to spring some surprises in 2025
China, Hong Kong and Vietnam will be under watch for a reason
Inflation targeting: It should not constrain Indian manufacturing
Monetary policymakers should analyse the price dynamics of the entire basket of items that make up India's national income
Full of sound and fury: What the Bard may say of 2024
From central bank actions to Trump's ideas, there was plenty that inspires a Shakespearean look-back
All that glitters is not an auction of pawned gold
Gold auctions have risen lately. A sign of distress? Partly. These are more likely the result of lenders sprucing up their gold-loan portfolios after RBI frowned on risky lending practices
Trump's tariffs will not eliminate the dollar's exorbitant privilege
Exporters to the US may want to shift trade into other currencies but the dollar won't be dethroned
We must approach tech transformations with due care
How we deal with technology is getting highly complex. It's the reason we must exercise fine judgement
Simplifying estate planning: The value of expert guidance
Engaging a professional like estate planning attorney who has expertise in her/his field, is very important.
INTERNATIONAL ETFS ARE TRADING AT A PREMIUM: WHAT SHOULD INVESTORS DO?
Most successful investors remain informed, agile, and approach investments strategically
A BONE THIEF IN UKRAINE'S BACKYARD
Ukrainian officials say the Russians continue their efforts to repatriate the remains of Soviet war dead
AP split leaves state-backed bondholders high and dry
Investors await payments as Andhra and Telangana dispute AP power bonds post-bifurcation