Iran Press/Europe: In his statements, Trump called Canada the 51st state of the United States and called on Panama to return the Panama Canal to the United States.
Trump first raised the call for Canada to join the United States during a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Although an official accompanying Trudeau dismissed Trump's remarks as a joke, Trump's repetition of the claim showed he was serious.
The president-elect also suggested on his Truth Social platform that US control of Greenland, a self-governing territory under Denmark’s monarchy, is an “absolute necessity” due to its strategic importance.
This proposal has raised concerns for the Danish government and has elicited reactions from several European countries.
France’s foreign minister on Wednesday cautioned Trump against encroaching on the European Union’s sovereign borders.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot told France Inter radio that while he does not believe the US would attempt to invade Greenland, he underscored the EU’s commitment to defending its territory.
“It is the European Union’s territory. It is out of the question that the European Union allows other nations of the world—Russia first—to target its sovereign borders,” Barrot said.
Barrot emphasized the need for Europe to bolster its unity and strength, noting that the world is entering an era where “the law of the strongest” increasingly prevails.
“Should we let ourselves get intimidated and overtaken by worries? Of course not. First, we must wake up,” Barrot said.
Greenland, while part of the Kingdom of Denmark, maintains significant autonomy with its own parliament and administration. The island elects two members to Denmark’s parliament and has consistently rejected notions of US ownership, citing its strong cultural and political ties to Denmark.
The island’s strategic location in the Arctic makes it a key site for a US early-warning missile defense system, but Greenland’s population has repeatedly voiced opposition to any proposals for US acquisition.
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