'Negotiating trick': expert on Trump's statements on Canada, Greenland, Panama

He said this on Espreso TV.

"As for Donald Trump's provocative, even threatening statements about Canada, Greenland, and Panama, it's very simple - let's look at the broader context. The statements on Canada came about because Canadians rejected Trump's proposal for new trade tariffs. And believe me, this will all end with a return to the conversation about tariffs," the international expert said.

According to him, the statement on Greenland came just as it did in Trump's first term, amid the thesis that Europeans should spend more on their defense. And a week before he started talking about Greenland, there were statements about 3-5% of spending that Trump wants to see.

"As for Panama, just two weeks before his big interview and press conference, Trump proposed, let's call it that, to send about 20 million migrants by air to Panama, where they would be left. Believe me, this is another negotiation trick by Donald Trump," Oleksandr Kraiev summarized.

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Panama Canal 

On December 22, Trump stated that Panama allegedly charges excessive fees for the use of the Panama Canal.  

He argued that if "the principles, both moral and legal, of this generous gesture of gifting are not upheld, then we will demand the return of the Panama Canal to the United States of America in full, quickly and without questions."  

Panama’s President José Raúl Molino stated that "every square meter of the Panama Canal and its adjacent territories belongs to Panama."  

The U.S. built the Panama Canal in the early 1900s to assist commercial and military ships in traveling between its coasts.  

In 1999, the U.S. relinquished ownership of the waterway, more than 20 years after then-President Jimmy Carter signed the agreement with Panama.  

The newly elected U.S. President Donald Trump, in his Christmas greeting, once again expressed aspirations for the Panama Canal, Canada, and Greenland.  

Greenland

During his first term, Trump stated that he was considering the possibility of the U.S. purchasing Greenland and canceled a state visit to Denmark after Danish officials stated that the autonomous territory, which is part of the kingdom, was not for sale.  

On December 22, Trump again declared U.S. intentions to control Greenland: "For the sake of national security and freedom worldwide, the United States of America considers ownership and control of Greenland to be an absolute necessity."  

Prime Minister Múte Egede stated that Greenland is not for sale.  

"Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and will never be for sale. We must not lose our long struggle for freedom," he said.  

Following this, Denmark's Minister of Defense Troels Lund Poulsen announced that the country is increasing its defense spending on the island. Poulsen called this announcement "ironic," as Trump claimed that ownership and control of Greenland are "an absolute necessity" for the U.S.  

On January 6, the King of Denmark modified the royal coat of arms, making the symbols of Greenland and the Faroe Islands more prominent, which was perceived as a rebuke to Donald Trump after his claims to Greenland.  

Canada

On November 29, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump told Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that if Washington's 25% trade tariffs "kill" Canada's economy, the country should become the 51st state of the U.S.  

On December 10, Trump referred to Canada's Trudeau in his social media as "the governor of the great state of Canada." On December 18, he again floated the idea of making Canada the 51st state, citing the significant American subsidies Canada receives. On January 6, Trump reiterated the idea of making Canada the 51st state while commenting on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s resignation.