Both the Trump and Biden administrations have warned about rising risks in the Arctic over the last 8 years.
WASHINGTON—President-elect Donald Trump’s recent remarks about potentially using military or economic measures to control Greenland have sparked global concerns. While some view his comments as extreme, there is a longstanding consensus within the U.S. national security community that China’s and Russia’s growing influence in the Arctic is worrisome and demands immediate attention.
Trump has made similar statements regarding the Panama Canal, expressing frustration over the growing influence of Chinese state-owned companies in its operations.
“I’m not going to commit to that,” Trump said on Jan. 7 when asked if he would rule out using military or economic coercion to control both Greenland and the Panama Canal.
His comments during a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago resort left many reporters puzzled, prompting repeated questions for clarification.
He emphasized that the United States needs both regions for economic and national security reasons.
One of the benefits of Trump’s approach, whether intentional or not, is that it creates public discourse on issues that would typically be handled behind the scenes, Michael Walsh, a U.S. foreign policy expert, told The Epoch Times.
“It stirs discussion and debate. And you’re seeing that right now. You hear people on the metro talking about Greenland and Panama,” Walsh said.
For many, it’s unclear whether Trump intends to use military force or if he’s suggesting it as a negotiation tactic to change the status quo in both regions.
“It could be a negotiating tactic—who knows?” Walsh added.
However, he noted that understanding the context is important for the public to interpret Trump’s remarks.
“One of the problems with this whole narrative that’s happening is that people don’t understand the context. Even most political leaders don’t understand the context,” he said, referring to the rising risks in Greenland, the world’s largest island.
Walsh, who served as an adviser on Asia-Pacific security affairs for President Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential campaign, highlighted U.S. concerns about the independence of Greenland and the Faroe Islands—two autonomous territories of Denmark.
By Emel Akan
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