Trump fails to rule out use of force to take Greenland

US president-elect Donald Trump has refused to rule out using military or economic action to pursue acquisition of the Panama Canal and Greenland.

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During a bizarre and sometimes rambling press conference at his mansion in Mar-a-Lago in Florida last night, Mr Trump also floated the idea of turning Canada into a US state. He also said he would demand far higher defence spending from Nato allies and promised to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.

Still two weeks away from taking office on 20 January, Mr Trump has begun outlining an aggressive foreign policy with little regard to diplomatic considerations or the concerns of US allies.

Asked whether he could assure the world he would not use military or economic coercion as he tries to gain control of the Panama Canal and Greenland, Mr Trump said, “No, I can’t assure you on either of those two. But I can say this, we need them for economic security.”

Mr Trump criticised American spending on Canadian goods and military support for Canada, saying the US derives no benefits from doing so, and called the border between the two countries an “artificially drawn line”.

He suggested he would impose tariffs on Denmark if it resists his offer to purchase Greenland, which he said is vital to US national security. Shortly before Mr Trump’s comments, his son Don Jr arrived in Greenland for a private visit.