Trump won’t rule out using U.S. military to control Panama Canal, Greenland

President-elect Donald Trump On Tuesday he refused to rule out the use of the US military to take control of the Panama Canal and Greenland, expanding on a series of recent remarks he has made to acquire more territory for the US during his second term .

“We need them for economic security,” Trump said of the Central American trade route and the autonomous territory of Denmark, during a long press conference at his home in Florida, Mar-a- lake

A reporter asked Trump if he could assure the public that he would not use military or economic coercion in pursuit of any land.

“No, I can’t assure you of those two,” the president-elect replied.

“The Panama Canal was built for our military. I will not commit to it, no … It could be that you have to do something,” he said.

Trump has also expressed concern and frustration over China’s activities in both the Panama Canal and Greenland, sending a possible signal to America’s powerful adversary about its efforts to extend its global reach.

The channel is “operated by China,” he said. “We didn’t give it to China, and they abused it.”

In the same press conference, Trump announced that his administration will seek to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America.”

“What a beautiful name. And it’s appropriate,” he said.

U rich in oil body of water is the the ninth largest in the worldand was identified on maps as the Gulf of Mexico since the 1500s.

Since winning the presidential election in November, Trump has repeatedly pondered the annexation of territories, especially the Panama Canal. He criticized former President Jimmy Carter, who died Dec. 29, for negotiating the treaty that ultimately gave Panama full control of the 51-mile waterway.

The Republican, who takes office in less than two weeks, has also expressed interest in making Canada the “51st State.”

But he said on Tuesday that he planned to use only economic, and not military, pressure on the US ally and main trading partner.

“That would really be something,” he said of absorbing Canada into the United States. “You get rid of that artificially drawn line, and take a look at what it looks like, and it would be much better for national security as well.”

Trump complained about the US trade deficit with Canada, saying: “It’s good to have it if you’re a state, but if you’re another country, we don’t want to have it.”

Trump has threatened to impose it great fees on imports from Canada, the the second business partner with the United States

But “there would be no tariffs” on Canada if it becomes a US state, Trump said in the Social truth post monday He published that comment after the announcement of the Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau he will come down as head of the country.

Trump’s expansionist comments have sometimes been met with derision.

On Monday, Ontario Premier Doug Ford teased a counter-offer Canada to buy Alaska and other US states before concluding: “It is not realistic.”

And Trudeau wrote about X on Tuesday afternoon, “There is not a snowball’s chance in hell that Canada will become part of the United States.”

Greenland’s prime minister, Mute Egede, categorically stated in December that the island is “not for sale and will never be for sale.”

Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., landed in Greenland’s capital Nuuk on Tuesday to create media content.

His father, in a Truth Social post the day before, he said that Trump Jr. was there to “visit some of the most magnificent areas and sights”.

“Greenland is an incredible place, and the people will benefit tremendously if and when it becomes part of our Nation,” Trump wrote.