No Ruling Out Use of Military Over Greenland-Trump

America's President-elect, Donald Trump, has said he will not rule out the use of the country's military to take over of the Panama canal and Greenland. Trump who described both territories as vital to America's national security, made the statement while briefing newsmen Monday.

His position runs counter to decades of U.S. policy which places priority that has priority on self-determination over territorial expansion.

“I’m not going to commit to that,” Trump said, when prompted on whether he would consider the use of the military to seize the territories. 

“It might be that you’ll have to do something. The Panama Canal is vital to our country.

“We need Greenland for national security purposes,” he said. 

Reactions are already pouring in over the statement. In an interview with Danish broadcaster TV2, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen refer to the US as Denmark’s “most important and closest ally”, adding that she does not believe that the country will resort to the use of the military or economic power to secure control over Greenland. She however, welcomed the idea of the US taking a greater interest in the Arctic region under a condition that respects the people of Greenland.

According to her, such an arrangement would “have to be done in a way that is respectful of the Greenlandic people.”

“At the same time, it must be done in a way that allows Denmark and the United States to still cooperate in, among other things, NATO,” Frederiksen said.

Trump who earlier posted a video of his private plane landing in Nuuk, the Arctic territory’s capital, explained that his son was there as his representative for a deal that will happen soon.

“Don Jr. and my Reps landing in Greenland,” Trump wrote. “The reception has been great. They, and the Free World, need safety, security, strength, and PEACE! This is a deal that must happen. MAGA. MAKE GREENLAND GREAT AGAIN!”

But the government of Greenland, in a statement, countered that Trump Jr.’s visit was taking place “as a private individual”, insisting that he isn't there in any official visit. It added that no official of the territory will have any contact with him.

Panama, on the other hand, said it has not had any official contact with Trump or his representative on the matter.

Speaking through its Foreign Minister, Javier Martínez-Acha, the country reiterated its revious position as put forward by President José Raúl Mulino, to the effect that the canal will remain in Panamanian hands.

“The sovereignty of our canal is not negotiable and is part of our history of struggle and an irreversible conquest,” he said.

Trump has also floated the idea of including Canada as the 51st state of the US. He however, ruled out the possibility of using the military to enforce the union.

According to him, an economic weapon would serve a better purpose, referring to his country's trade deficit with its northern neighbour, rich in natural resource, enough to provide the US. with vital commodities including crude oil and petroleum under a subsidy regime billed to end soon.

Not unexpectedly, Canadian leaders responded fiercely to his suggestion, emphasizing that the incoming American president lack understanding of what makes Canada a great country, describing Trump's take as a joke,

“President-elect Trump’s comments show a complete lack of understanding of what makes Canada a strong country. Our economy is strong. Our people are strong. We will never back down in the face of threats,” Foreign Minister, Mélanie Joly, lashed out at him