Panama Responds to President Trump’s Refusal to Rule Out Using Force to Take Back the Canal

Earlier today during an emergency press conference, President Trump was asked to shut down the idea of using military or economic force in order to secure Greenland and the Panama Canal.

Here was his response:

BREAKING: President Trump just signaled that he is prepared to use the U.S. military to obtain Greenland and retake the Panama Canal

Reporter: "Can you assure the world that as you try to get control of these areas, you are not going to use military or economic coercion?"… pic.twitter.com/MhAq6CJTvg

— George (@BehizyTweets) January 7, 2025

One thing is clear: President Trump is absolutely serious about taking back the Panama Canal and making Greenland part of the great USA!

AP reported:

President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday said he would not rule out the use of military force to seize control of the Panama Canal and Greenland, as he declared U.S. control of both to be vital to American national security.

Speaking to reporters less than two weeks before he takes office on Jan. 20 and as a delegation of aides and advisers that includes Donald Trump Jr. is in Greenland, Trump left open the use of the American military to secure both territories. Trump’s intention marks a rejection of decades of U.S. policy that has prioritized self-determination over territorial expansion.

“I’m not going to commit to that,” Trump said, when asked if he would rule out the use of the military. “It might be that you’ll have to do something. The Panama Canal is vital to our country.” He added, “We need Greenland for national security purposes.”

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After this press conference, Panama issued a statement in response, calling the canal’s sovereignty “non-negotiable.”

Take a look:

Panama asserts its canal sovereignty as “non-negotiable” after Trump hints at possible military action to reclaim it.

Follow: @AFpost pic.twitter.com/aoXdIwrfi2

— AF Post (@AFpost) January 8, 2025

#BREAKING Panama says the sovereignty of its canal was non-negotiable, after US President-elect Donald Trump refused to rule out military action to regain control.

"The sovereignty of our canal is not negotiable and is part of our history of struggle," Foreign Minister Javier… pic.twitter.com/Wqq2s0q9q5

— AFP News Agency (@AFP) January 8, 2025

From The Global Times:

Panama said on Tuesday that the sovereignty of its interoceanic canal was non-negotiable, while Denmark said Greenland is not for sale, after US President-elect Donald Trump refused to rule out military or economic coercion to gain control.

“The sovereignty of our canal is not negotiable and is part of our history of struggle,” Panama Foreign Minister Javier Martinez-Acha said, noting that President Jose Raul Mulino had made his stance clear.

Asked at a press conference at his Florida resort whether he could assure the world he would not use military or economic coercion as he tries to gain control of the Panama Canal and Greenland, Trump said, “No, I can’t assure you on either of those two. But I can say this, we need them for economic security,” according to Reuters.

Similarly, the Prime Minister of Denmark also recently responded to President Trump sending a delegation, including Don Jr., to Greenland by asserting that “Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders.”

JUST IN: The Prime Minister of Denmark has issued a new statement after Trump sends a delegation to Greenland amid wanting to bring it into the U.S.

"Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders." pic.twitter.com/qFRWQxDcag

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) January 7, 2025

I guess we will certainly see..