By newsfirstusa 
President-elect Donald Trump advised on Wednesday that the U.S. may whip keep an eye on of Canada, Greenland and the Panama Canal—an sudden Christmas While message that has sparked considerations amongst international leaders in contemporary days as they scramble to arrange for Trump’s 2d White Area time period.
In a Wednesday submit at the platform Reality Social, Trump wanted a “Merry Christmas to all,” together with to the “wonderful soldiers of China, who are lovingly, but illegally, operating the Panama Canal,” earlier than transferring directly to whip try at Canada and Greenland as neatly, which he advised once more may well be at an advantage underneath U.S. governance.
Trump reiterated his declare that U.S. shippers are being forced to pay “ridiculous” and “exorbitant” costs to navigate the Panama Canal—a synthetic, 51-mile waterway that connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. He has advised, with out proof, that Chinese language pursuits are gaining outsize affect over the waterway, one thing Panamanian leaders have steadfastly denied.
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A boat is perceivable at the Gaillard Decrease within the Panama Canal. (CORBIS/Corbis by means of Getty Photographs)
In his Reality Social submit Wednesday, Trump additionally satirically referred to Canadian Top Minister Justin Trudeau as “governor” reiterating his contemporary recommendation that Canada must be become a U.S. environment.
“If Canada was to become our 51st state, their taxes would be cut by more than 60%, their businesses would immediately double in size, and they would be militarily protected like no other country anywhere in the world,” Trump mentioned.
After all, the president-elect grew to become his consideration to Greenland; an self reliant, geographically notable Arctic location rife with herbal sources, together with uncommon earth minerals.
The U.S., Trump mentioned on Wednesday, “feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity” for causes of nationwide safety and “global freedom.’
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is seen on Nov. 29, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
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Trump’s lengthy Truth Social post did little to assuage the concerns of some world leaders, who have carefully watched Trump’s actions and his statements in recent weeks for clues as to how he might govern in a second term.
The remarks also appear to be at odds with the “The usa First” policies long espoused by Trump, which seek to prioritize domestic policy rather than expansion or U.S. presence abroad.
Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Mont., echoed Trump’s concerns in an interview Thursday, describing China’s influence in the Panama Canal, and the higher prices incurred by shippers, as a “shot around the bow.”
“Take into account, we’ve China and Cuba,” Zinke said on “Mornings with Maria.“ “We now have Maduro in Venezuela. We now have had Russian ships there. And the Panama Canal is significant to our nationwide safety. And at the moment, it’s being run through the Chinese language Communist Celebration. So it’s a priority—completely.”
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Homes are illuminated after the sunset in Tasiilaq, Greenland. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana,)
To be sure, it is not the first time Trump has indicated interest in Greenland, a mineral-rich, geographically important territory.
In 2019, then-President Trump told reporters he was “” in purchasing Greenland, which he described at the time as “necessarily” a “immense actual property do business in.” The 2019 effort never gained traction, however; and this week, Greenland Prime Minister Mute Egede immediately poured cold water on the idea that their territory could be sold to the U.S.
“Greenland is ours,” Greenland Prime Minister Mute Egede said this week, in response to Trump’s suggestion.
“We don’t seem to be on the market and can by no means be on the market,” he said. “We should no longer lose our lengthy attempt for democracy.”
Meanwhile, Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino also disputed the notion that U.S. vessels have been singled out or paid higher fees to traverse the Panama Canal—as well as the notion that the U.S., which phased out its ownership beginning in the 1970s, has any right to reassert control over the shipping waypoint.
In a video posted to social media earlier this week, Mulino reassured his country’s people that the “self determination and self government of our nation is non-negotiable.”
The Panama Canal is one of the largest and most strategically important commodity shipping waterways in the world. It handles roughly 5% of all global maritime trade and roughly 40% of U.S. container ship traffic.
Picturesque Lake Gatun, Panama Canal. (Danuta Hamlin)
Recent higher prices are primarily the result of drought and more competition, which sent water levels plummeting last year to their lowest point on record. Though water levels have since rebounded, operators of the canal were forced to temporarily limit vessel traffic and increase costs for ships using the waypoint.
Other factors have also played a role in higher maritime shipping prices.
A series of attacks on vessels in the Red Sea late last year prompted many major commodities shippers, including BP and Equinor, to pause or reroute their shipments away from the Suez Canal. Some opted to reroute supplies via the Cape of Good Hope, adding weeks of additional time to their trips.
The Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, incorrectly claimed on social media last week that the Panama Canal cost U.S. taxpayers $15.7 billion. In fact, the higher costs are shouldered by the ships that pass through the waterway, in the form of tolls. The U.S. government does not subsidize the canal.
‘AMERICA FIRST’ VS. ‘AMERICA LAST’: WHAT DOES TRUMP’S RETURN MEAN FOR US FOREIGN POLICY?
The gate locks on the Panama Canal open for ship traffic in Dec. 2023. Drought conditions have limited the number of vessels that can travel through the canal per day, adding more price pressure for shipping companies. (Danuta Hamlin)
Panamanian authorities have stressed that the prices are not the result of “unfair” treatment, or capitulation to China or any other nation-state influence.
“The canal has disagree direct or oblique keep an eye on from China, nor the Ecu Union, nor the USA or any alternative energy,” Mulino said in his remarks. “As a Panamanian, I disclaim any manifestation that misrepresents this truth.”
Nonetheless, Trump does no longer seem to be backing ailing on growth claims.
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“The Panama Canal is regarded as a VITAL Nationwide Asset for the USA, because of its vital position to The usa’s Financial system and Nationwide Safety,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post Sunday. “A conserve Panama Canal is a very powerful for U.S. Trade, and fast deployment of the Military, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and significantly cuts transport occasions to U.S. ports.”
“We’re no longer committing to be on one?s feet for it,” he said. “So, to the officers of Panama, please be guided accordingly.”