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The meeting with the press from his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida was supposed to concern an Emirati investment to build new data centers in the United States. But the future American president quickly moved away from this question to address a wide range of subjects for more than an hour. Asked if he could guarantee that he would not use armed forces to annex the Panama Canal, a vital artery of global shipping, and Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, Donald Trump replied: “I can’t assure you, on either of them.”
The president-elect has already stated on several occasions that he wants to take back the Panama Canal, built by the United States and inaugurated in 1914, if the price of tolls for American ships is not reduced. He again castigated on Tuesday the agreement made in 1977 by then-President Jimmy Carter, which resulted in a transfer of control of the canal to Panama in 1999.
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The Panama Canal 'is not negotiable'
“They don’t treat us fairly. They charge our ships more than the ships of other countries,” launched Donald Trump. “They make fun of us because they think we are stupid. But we're not stupid anymore.” he declared again. But Panama's sovereignty over this canal “is not negotiable,” replied Javier Martinez-Acha, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of this Central American country.
Just before Christmas, the president-elect also ruled that control of Greenland was “an absolute necessity” pour “national security and freedom around the world.” On Tuesday, he urged Denmark to “give up” to this autonomous territory. His son, Donald Trump Jr, was in Greenland at the time on a private visit as “tourist.” “Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders,” insisted Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on television, upon the arrival of Donald Trump Jr at Nuuk airport.
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He is notno way» that the European Union leaves countries «attack its sovereign borders“, declared the head of French diplomacy Jean-Noël Barrot on Wednesday, in reaction to threats of annexation of Greenland by Donald Trump. Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, is “a territory of the European Union. There is no question of the EU letting any other nation in the world attack its sovereign borders.», he declared this Wednesday on France inter.
Canada and NATO in Trump's sights
Donald Trump also threatened to use the “economic strength” against Canada, this ally “subsidized” by the United States for its protection, according to him. Shortly after the announcement of the resignation of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday, Donald Trump estimated that Canada should “merge” with the United States, a remark that annoys the northern neighbor. The Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mélanie Joly, replied that Canada would not back down “never face threats,” while Justin Trudeau added: “Never, ever, will Canada be part of the United States.” Which did not prevent Donald Trump from posting a map of the United States which includes Canada a few hours later on his Truth Social network.
The Republican billionaire also relaunched his accusations against NATO, of which he has never hidden paying little attention, repeating over and over again that its members do not pay enough in exchange for the protection of the United States. For Donald Trump, member states must increase their defense budget to 5% of their GDP, compared to the 2% currently required. “They can all afford it,” he added.
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“Gulf of America”
Another shocking announcement, a priori more symbolic: Donald Trump affirmed that upon his return to the White House on January 20, the United States would change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to “Gulf of America.” Before castigating Mexico, which “must stop letting millions of people pour into our country,” in reference to the crossing of the southern border by thousands of illegal migrants. Donald Trump also attacked offshore wind turbines, “that drive whales crazy,” or even electric heating. According to him, the heat from gas heating is “much better” and does not cause “itching.”
