Trump does not rule out military pressure on Greenland and Panama

The US President-elect Donald Trump calls on NATO member states to significantly increase their defense spending.

Instead of the previously targeted two percent of their gross domestic product (GDP), the partner countries should invest five percent in the future, the Republican said at a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago property in Florida. “They can all afford it.”

The USA itself is currently below this and, according to the latest estimates, is expected to reach 3.38 percent in 2024.

The Republican had announced during the election campaign that he wanted to work within NATO to ensure that all alliance members spent three percent of their gross domestic product on defense in the future. Now he increased his demands even further. The current NATO target only provides for a minimum quota of two percent.

During his first term in office (2017 to 2021), Trump threatened to withdraw the USA from the military alliance if the partner countries did not fulfill their obligation to invest at least two percent of GDP in defense. At his press conference, Trump boasted that it was only because of his pressure that the NATO partners increased their spending – only because he had threatened to no longer protect the countries otherwise.

Greenland and Panama: Trump does not rule out military pressure

In addition, at the press conference, the future US President did not rule out using the military to gain control of the Panama Canal or Greenland. Asked by a journalist whether he could assure the world that he would not use military or economic coercion, Trump said: “No.” The Republican, who will move back into the White House on January 20th, emphasized that he would not commit to this. It could be that “you have to do something”.

Trump had previously described transit fees at the Panama Canal as “highly unfair.” He called for control of the waterway to be returned to the United States if it was not treated fairly. The canal – one of the world’s most important trade routes – was built by the United States in the early 20th century and long controlled before management gradually passed to Panama. “The Panama Canal is vital to our country. It is operated by China,” Trump complained at Mar-a-Lago.

Trump had also repeatedly expressed interest in the island of Greenland, which belongs to Denmark. In December he said: “In the interest of national security and freedom in the world, the United States believes that possession and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity.” Trump’s son Donald Trump Jr. is currently visiting the island – the trip is officially of a private nature. Trump claimed at the press conference that we didn’t even know whether Denmark had any legal claim to Greenland. “But if so, they should give it up because we need (Greenland) for national security.”

Trump also spoke about other topics at the press conference, some of which he did not explain further. So he said he wanted to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.

Trump wants to rename the Gulf of Mexico

Trump also spoke about other topics at the press conference. So he said he wanted to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. The name he suggested had “a beautiful sound,” Trump explained. “What a beautiful name. And it’s appropriate. It’s appropriate.”

The body of water borders not only on the US states of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida, but also on Mexico and Cuba. A renaming would therefore require diplomatic negotiations with these states and would also entail significant adjustments in maps, international treaties and scientific documents.

This isn’t the first time Trump has suggested a name change. He had previously suggested renaming North America’s highest mountain – Denali – back to Mount McKinley. The mountain was officially renamed under Trump’s predecessor, Democrat Barack Obama, at the request of the state of Alaska after years of dispute. The name change was a sign of cultural sensitivity toward Alaska’s indigenous population, for whom the mountain has had special meaning for centuries.