Following his electoral victory, President-elect Donald Trump has announced his plans to acquire Greenland, the Panama Canal, and Canada in order to strengthen the U.S. economy. His primary tool to achieve this will likely be tariffs, taxes imposed on imports of specific goods from specific countries. Tariffs can reduce trade in affected areas and promote domestic production, but also raise costs of affected goods for consumers. Trump declined to rule out using the military to annex Greenland and the Panama Canal. However, he confirmed that he would not use military force to acquire Canada. Greenland has been in Trump’s sights since his first term, arguing that control of Greenland’s strategic position is integral for national security. Though Denmark is not a large trading partner with the United States, tariffs could increase prices of pharmaceuticals like Ozempic, Denmark’s biggest export to the States. 

While the United States and Denmark butt heads, a growing independence movement in Greenland has the possibility to turn everything on its head. Since 2009, Greenland has had the ability to declare its independence once its people vote to leave. “The Greenlandic people don’t want to be Danes. The Greenlandic people don’t want to be Americans,” said Greenland’s Prime Minister, Mute Egede in an interview with Fox News. The feasibility of independence would be a considerable challenge, however, around half of Greenland’s Federal budget is paid for by Denmark. The new Nuuk International Airport and new direct flights to Greenland may suggest that to scale up their economy, they are looking to mimic their neighbor Iceland, whose tourism industry represents a major part of their economy.

Trump is also looking to pick up the Panama Canal for economic rather than security reasons. The canal was built in 1904 and remained under the control of the United States until 1999, when it was returned to Panama. “The purpose of our deal and the spirit of our treaty has been totally violated. American ships are being severely overcharged and not treated fairly in any way, shape, or form. And that includes the United States Navy,” President Trump said in his inaugural address, “And above all, China is operating the Panama Canal.  And we didn’t give it to China. We gave it to Panama, and we’re taking it back.” Since last year, Trump has repeatedly made the claim that the canal has been surrendered to China, and though China does play a major role in the global shipping industry (to which the Panama Canal is vitally important to), the canal is entirely owned by Panama.

Article by Oscar Guillemin