Why is Trump interested in Greenland, Canada and Panama?
Donald Trump is stoking geopolitical tensions in the Americas with his claims to Canada, Greenland and Panama.
Trump is thinking of US interests and previously stated that he almost considered Canada the ‘51st state of the United States’. Once he is in the White House, he wants higher import tariffs on goods coming to the US from Canada.
For its strategic and economic value, he has also set his sights on Greenland, an autonomous region of Denmark. Trump sees US ownership and control of Greenland as an ‘absolute necessity’ to ensure US security and freedom for the whole world.
Trump also sees Panama as essential to US interests. He criticised the high toll charges for US ships in the Panama Canal. Over 70 per cent of the ships passing through the canal are US vessels. The second major user of the canal is China, accounting for about 20 per cent. Moreover, China controls the two major seaports on either side of the canal. China's influence in the region is therefore a thorn in the side of the incoming US president.
(Fausto/Source: NYT, De Morgen/Illustration picture: picture alliance / AA | Daniel Gonzalez)