Why did Trump float takeovers of Greenland and the Panama Canal?

Trump's promises to use America's strength to its advantage helped propel him twice to the White House.

British Broadcasting CorporationWatch LiveHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthVideoLiveHomeNewsIsrael-Gaza WarWar in UkraineUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC InDepthBBC VerifySportBusinessExecutive LoungeTechnology of BusinessFuture of BusinessInnovationTechnologyScience & HealthArtificial IntelligenceAI v the MindCultureFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsArtsArts in MotionTravelDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListEarthNatural WondersWeather & ScienceClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingVideoLiveLive NewsLive SportHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthVideoLiveAudioWeatherNewslettersGreenland and the Panama Canal aren't for sale. Why is Trump threatening to take them?Getty ImagesDonald Trump speaks at a Turning Point conference in Arizona.President-elect Donald Trump ran on a platform of isolating the US from foreign conflicts like the Ukraine war, increasing tariffs on foreign trade partners, and rebuilding domestic manufacturing.

But in recent days he has suggested a more outwardly aggressive approach for his foreign policy.

At first, he joked about Canada being an additional US state. Since, he has threatened to take back control of the Panama Canal. He also reiterated a desire from his first term to own the autonomous Danish territory of Greenland, which is not for sale.

The US is unlikely to take control of any of these regions. But these statements could indicate that Trump's "America First" vision includes flexing the superpower's muscle beyond its borders for US trade and national security interests.

On Sunday, Trump told a conservative conference in Arizona that Panama was charging US ships "ridiculous, highly unfair" fees to use its namesake canal.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1lnzzd1zrmo

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