America could soon become ‘a bigger country’ – Trump
The president has said the territory of the US could increase in the near future
The US could acquire new territories in the near future, President Donald Trump has told a crowd of supporters.
In recent weeks, Trump has expressed ambitions to expand US territory and showed interest in annexing Greenland, Canada, and the Panama Canal.
“We might be an enlarged country pretty soon,” Trump said in a speech in Las Vegas on Saturday.
“For years, for decades, we were the same size to the square foot… probably got smaller, actually,” he said, adding that this could change “soon.”
Trump: We may be a very substantially enlarged country in the not too distant— Isn’t it nice to see — for years, decades, we’re the same size to the square-foot, probably got smaller actually but we might be an enlarged country pretty soon. pic.twitter.com/K255p9Se0i
In a recent phone conversation with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Trump was “very firm” in pushing for Denmark to relinquish control of Greenland, leaving the Danes “utterly freaked out,” the Financial Times reported on Friday, citing European officials briefed on the matter.
Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, was granted home rule in 1979. The Arctic island is home to around 60,000 people and hosts the US Pituffik base.
Greenland’s pro-independence leaders and Danish officials have been firm in rejecting Trump’s offer to buy Greenland. While Frederiksen has reportedly offered to expand US military presence on the island and deepen cooperation on mineral exploitation, Trump was aggressive and confrontational during the phone call, according to the FT.
Trump initially floated the idea of purchasing Greenland during his first term in office in 2019, but was met with rejection from both Danish and Greenlandic officials. Last month, he said, “ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity” for US national security.
In addition to Greenland, Trump has mentioned regaining ownership of the Panama Canal, which was under US management until 1999. He cited concerns about China’s growing influence over the vital trade route. Panamanian President Jose Mulino has promised to resist a potential takeover and denied that the vital waterway has been under foreign control.
Trump has repeatedly argued that Canada should become the 51st state of the United States, promising tax breaks and other benefits to Canadian citizens if the move were to happen. He has accused Canada of being a bad trade partner and threatened to impose harsh tariffs on Canadian goods.
In early January, Trump refused to rule out the use of military force against Greenland and Panama, saying the US needs both for “economic security.” Trump added that he would only use “economic force” against Canada.
