Fatshimetrie seems to be entering a new, topsy-turvy media territory. The news has been ablaze with President-elect Donald Trump’s recent statements about U.S. territorial expansion that would rival historical events like the Louisiana Purchase or the acquisition of Alaska from Russia. Trump has launched provocations toward Canada by suggesting that it could be absorbed into the 51st U.S. state. He has also threatened to seize the Panama Canal, which Central America has controlled for a quarter-century. In addition, he has again raised his desire to acquire Greenland, a Danish territory on which he has long set his sights.
The lines between serious policy proposals and comments designed to attract media attention or galvanize his base are not always clear with Trump. Sometimes, his provocations seem like the opening salvos of his attempts at negotiation.
In his latest statements, Trump has referred to ownership of Greenland as an “absolute necessity” for national security and global freedom. His push to seize the Panama Canal, which he has described as a “vital national asset” despite having been controlled by Panama for decades, reflects a nationalist agenda that Trump often describes as “America First.”
Speaking in Arizona over the weekend, Trump also reiterated his intention to designate drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, a move that could lead to the use of military force on Mexican soil. Threats to bomb fentanyl labs and send special forces to take out cartel leaders could violate Mexico’s sovereignty and disrupt relations with America’s largest trading partner.
Trump’s transition team has not clarified whether these recent statements reflect real ambitions or other motivations, instead pointing to his recent comments and social media posts.
While some people close to Trump’s transition couldn’t pinpoint the source of his sudden interest in the ongoing Panama Canal activity, one adviser noted that Trump regularly supports causes that are brought to him by people ranging from longtime friends to new acquaintances if they inspire him. Since winning the election last month, Trump has spent most of his days hosting close allies, business tycoons, donors and heads of state at his Palm Beach estate.
In comments to Fox Business, Rep. Carlos Gimenez of Florida said he takes Trump seriously, even if his remarks may seem outrageous. Gimenez said threatening Panama is a legitimate threat to that country.
Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino responded strongly to Trump’s statements by asserting that ownership of the canal was non-negotiable. Built at the turn of the 20th century, the canal was operated by the United States until 1999, when it was fully handed over to Panama under a treaty signed by President Jimmy Carter two decades earlier, guaranteeing American use of the canal in perpetuity.
Despite this strong response from the Panamanian president, Trump and his supporters appear determined, responding to criticism with memes and images on social media that bolster his cause.
The climate is therefore tense, and the consequences of such statements could have a significant impact on international relations and global geopolitics. It is essential to closely monitor the developments of this situation and to carefully analyze the real intentions behind these surprising announcements from the future American president.