How seriously are we supposed to take Donald Trump's words about annexing Greenland and the Panama Canal?

Faisal Azam
10 Jan, 2025


We should be taking Trump’s words about annexing Greenland and the Panama Canal very seriously. Trump’s special envoy on Russia-Ukraine regulation, Keith Kellogg, reminded during an interview that the U.S. already captured Panama Canal militarily in recent history.

The United States invaded Panama in mid-December 1989 in the operation, codenamed ‘Operation Just Cause’, during the presidency of George H. W. Bush.

  • The stated purpose of the operation was to depose de facto ruler of Panama dictator Manuel Noriega, and reinstate the power of democratically elected government of Guillermo Endara.
  • Nearly 26,000 U.S. troops had been deployed, overwhelming the Panamanian Defense Forces.
  • During the operation, 23 U.S. service members were killed and more than 300 wounded.
  • ‘Operation Just Cause’ was the U.S. largest and most complex combat operation since the Vietnam War.

Regarding Greenland, the U.S. have previously offered to buy it, and Trump was talking about Greenland already during his first term.

He obviously wasn’t talking about it in his election campaign, because then Russia and China would likely be directing their cyber troops to attack Trump, and this could bring advantage to his opponent, candidate of the Democratic Party Kamala Harris.

Regarding Greenland, prime-minister Mute Bourup Egede is strongly pushing for referendum on Greenland’s independence.

Greenland’s general elections are due to be held no later than 6 April 2025 to elect the 31 members of the Inatsisartut.

  • Greenland was a Danish colony until 1953, but it’s now a self-governing territory of Denmark.
  • In 2009, Greenland achieved the right to claim independence through a vote.
  • In 2023, Greenland's government presented its first draft constitution.

An independence movement has gained traction in Greenland in recent years — and Egede, who has led Greenland since 2021, comes from the pro-independence Community of the People (IA) party.

Under the 2009 agreement with Denmark, Greenland can declare independence only after a successful referendum — which Egede hinted could be held at the same time as parliamentary elections in April 2025.

“Work has already begun on creating the framework for Greenland as an independent state,” Egede said.

“It is necessary to take major steps … The upcoming new election period must, together with the citizens, create these new steps.”

The prime-minister also stated that the Greenlanders want to choose themselves the countries to partner with.

There is a U.S. military base on the island.

The U.S. maintains a permanent military presence at the Pituffik space base in Greenland's northwest.

So, knowing that, Donald Trump’s appeals to Denmark to give up control of Greenland and his refusal to rule out the use of military force, might make more sense.

This is also why Trump now claims that the people of Greenland would love to become a part of United States, while complaining about Russia and China trying to sneak their influence over the island.

All in all, take it seriously.
Because it is.