WP learned reasons behind Trump's statements about Canada, Greenland, Panama Canal
Donald Trump (photo: Getty Images)
In recent weeks, elected US President Donald Trump has been contemplating the idea of seizing Greenland, returning the Panama Canal, and proposing making Canada the 51st state. These statements may be related to his policy of countering Russia and China, reports The Washington Post.
The WP notes that Trump's pre-presidential tactics regarding Greenland, the Panama Canal, and neighboring countries are unlikely to lead to significant changes. Specifically, Canadians and their political leaders are unlikely to be receptive to the idea of dissolving their country, and American lawmakers have shown little willingness to accept Canada as a new state.
WP further writes that for Trump, exercising his imperial instincts on some of the US closest partners advances the same fragmented foreign policy he pursued during his first term. At that time, he sought to aggressively promote American interests on the global stage, with little regard for borders or delicate international relations.
Trump's team insists that his recent comments are part of a broader strategy.
"World leaders are flocking to the table because President Trump is already delivering on his promise to Make America Strong Again. When he officially takes office, foreign nations will think twice before ripping off our country, America will be respected again, and the whole world will be safer," said Trump’s transition press secretary, Anna Kelly.
According to the transition official, the overarching mission to counter Russia and China is the thread that ties together the newly elected president's comments on Canada, Mexico, Greenland, and Panama.
The official stated that it was not just carelessness, but that there was a coherent underlying fabric to all of it. They mentioned that Trump knew which levers to pull and what the boundaries were, and that he was in a position of power to use those levers.
Additionally, The Washington Post added that this month, Canadian officials announced plans to increase spending on border security, including the use of canine teams and artificial intelligence to intercept illegal drugs. The transition team pointed to this announcement as an early sign of success for Trump's strategy.
Recently, Trump extended Christmas greetings to everyone, including Canada, referring to the country as the 51st state of the US and calling Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau the governor.
