Donald Trump gave a rambling and provocative press conference on Tuesday, January 7, during which he repeated his ambitions to annex the Panama Canal and Greenland, by force if necessary, the day after the certification of his victory at the presidential election by the US Congress.
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While the press conference from his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida was supposed to be about a $20 billion Emirati investment to build new data centers in the UNITED STATESthe future American president quickly moved away from this question to address a wide range of national and international subjects for more than an hour.
As usual, however, it was immediately difficult to distinguish between real announcements and exaggerated opinions in the Republican’s resounding declarations.
Asked whether he could guarantee that he would not use the armed forces to annex the Canal Panamaa vital artery of global maritime transport, and Greenland, the autonomous territory of Denmark, Donald Trump replied: “ I can’t assure you of either of them. »
The president-elect has already stated on several occasions that he wants to take over the Panama Canal, built by the United States and inaugurated in 1914, if the price of tolls for American ships is not reduced.
“ We are no longer stupid »
He again castigated on Tuesday the agreement made in 1977 by then-President Jimmy Carter, which resulted in a transfer of control of the canal to Panama in 1999. “ They don’t treat us fairly. They charge our ships more than other countries’ ships “, he said. “ They make fun of us because they think we are stupid. But we’re not stupid anymore “, declared Donald Trump again.
Just before Christmas, the president-elect also ruled that control of Greenland was “ an absolute necessity ” For “ national security and freedom around the world “. On Tuesday, he urged Denmark to “ give up » to this autonomous territory. “ I’m talking about protecting the free world “, he declared, referring to the threat of Russian and Chinese ships “ almost everywhere “.
Also readDoes Donald Trump seriously want to attach Greenland to the United States?
The son of the future US president, Donald Trump Jr, arrived in Greenland on Tuesday for a private visit as ” tourist », claiming not to have planned any official meetings.
Donald Trump also threatened to use “ economic strength » against Canada, this northern ally « subsidized » by the United States for its protection, according to him. Soon after announcement of resignation Monday January 7 by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Donald Trump estimated that Canada should “ merge » with the United States.
The remark that annoys the neighbor to the north. “ President-elect Trump’s comments demonstrate a complete misunderstanding of what makes Canada strong. We will never back down from threats », declared on X Mélanie Joly, the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Shortly after, resigning Prime Minister Justin Trudeau added: “ Never, ever will Canada be part of the United States. »
“ Difficult situation »
The Republican billionaire also relaunched his accusations against NATO. The former and future American president makes no secret of the little regard he has for the Atlantic Alliance, a pillar of security in Europe since the Second World War, repeatedly repeating that its members do not pay enough in exchange for the protection of the United States.
For Donald Trump, member states must increase their defense budget to 5% of their GDP, compared to the 2% currently required. “ They can all afford it “, he added.
Also readDonald Trump’s comments on NATO: a boost for European defense?
In addition to his international aims, Donald Trump raised several national subjects during the press conference, protesting in particular against the “ instrumentalization of justice » towards him, according to him. He further stated “ inherit a difficult situation from the outgoing administration “, Who “ does everything to make it even more difficult “.
Another shocking announcement, but with surely more innocuous consequences: Donald Trump affirmed that upon his return to the White House on January 20, the United States would change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to “ Gulf of America. »
“ The Gulf of America, what a nice name “, he exclaimed, before castigating Mexico, which “ must stop letting millions of people pour into our country » – in reference to the crossing of the southern border by thousands of illegal migrants.