Name: A look at Donald Trumps expansionist agenda
Uploaded: 2025-01-21T17:25:54.045Z
Duration: 3 min 51 s
Description: President Donald Trump vowed that the U.S. would take back the Panama Canal as he delivered an inauguration speech on Monday. In the run-up to his inauguration, he also said he wanted to acquire Greenland and mused about turning Canada into a U.S. state.

President Donald Trump vowed that the U.S. would take back the Panama Canal as he delivered an inauguration speech on Monday. In the run-up to his inauguration, he also said he wanted to acquire Greenland and mused about turning Canada into a U.S. state.

Washington

Donald Trump is preparing to take office after defeating Kamala Harris in the U.S. Presidential election.

U.S. Presidential Elect

Donald Trump has articulated bold plans that extend beyond traditional borders and diplomacy. Recently, he suggested the United States should acquire Greenland and make Canada its 51st state. While some Canadians have expressed the economic benefits of becoming part of the U.S., such as reduced taxes and enhanced military protection, Trump's proposals have primarily targeted economic concerns. Shortly after winning the presidency, Trump threatened Canada with a 25% tariff on all imports if it did not improve border security. 

This so-called expansionist agenda extends to renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America and is accompanied by a commitment to safeguarding the Panama Canal. Trump has falsely claimed that China runs the canal, although Chinese companies do operate ports on both ends. His foreign policy aims at curbing China's influence in strategic global areas such as Greenland and Panama. Furthermore, Trump's administration has plans to introduce tariffs on Chinese goods and maintain maximum pressure on Iran to control its nuclear and missile programs. 

Tensions may arise from his assertive stance concerning Taiwan, which could involve military action, given China's view of Taiwan as a breakaway province. Although it is unclear which plans will be realized, Trump's foreign policy continues to keep the U.S. and its international counterparts in suspense.



A look at Donald Trump's expansionist agenda

Canada. The land of maple syrup, Tim Hortons and poutine. A country whose very identity rests in being non-American. Donald Trump wants that to change. Even before stepping foot back into the White House, he's repeatedly taunted the northern neighbour with talk of absorbing it into the 51st US state. Many Canadians want Canada to become the 51st state. They would save massively on taxes and military protection. I think it's a great idea. 51st state. But Trump's fight with Canada is first and foremost economic. Shortly after his election victory, Trump threatened a 25% tariff on all goods coming in from its neighbour. Unless Canada took steps to tighten security on the border it shares with the US. It's not clear whether Trump's menacing is just mere trolling or a negotiating tactic, but it seems to be working. The Canadian government has already promised to boost border spending by $1 billion. In Canada, Mexico is also facing a 25% tariff threat from the Trump administration. And that's not all. He also says he plans to rename the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America. Changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, which has a beautiful ring that covers a lot of territory. The Gulf of America, what a beautiful name. American President Claudia Scheinbom has ridiculed Trump's remarks, suggesting that instead US territory that was once part of Mexico should be called Mexican America. Trump's calls to annex or purchase Greenland and the Panama Canal have also drawn similarly fiery responses. The 47th US president has refused to rule out using force to obtain Greenland, ruffling NATO's feathers. Danish Prime Minister Mette Friedriksen says it's not for sale. I want to make it very clear that in the eyes of the Danish government, Greenland is for the Greenlandic people. Because we're being ripped off at the Panama Canal like we're being ripped off everywhere else. Panama, for its part, insists the sovereignty of its canal, which Trump has described as a crucial asset for the United States, is not negotiable. At the heart of Trump's expansionist aims North and South is keeping China out. Beijing is increasingly eyeing up ways to tap into Greenland's rich mineral resources. The 47th president falsely alleged that China is running the Panama Canal, but Chinese companies do operate ports at both ends of the waterway. Talking tough on China has been a hallmark of Donald Trump's political career. During campaigning he pledged to once again keep up a hardline stance on Beijing. And I'm doing the same thing with China. We're going to tariff the hell out of them. Since winning the election in November, Trump has rolled back on his plans for tariffs on China, now pledging to impose 10 per cent, presumably on top of existing tariffs. Meanwhile the future of Taiwan continues to hang in the balance. Trump's cabinet picks full of China hawks could push for military action in the region, which China sees as a breakaway province. Another key priority for Trump is Iran. He's set to maintain his first administration's policy of maximum pressure. The goal? Forcing Tehran to limit its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes. Trump failed to achieve this when he was last in power, but today's geopolitical landscape is very different. It's not clear how much of Trump's plans will see the light of day, but what's certain is his foreign policy is set to keep both allies and enemies guessing.

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