“Photo: FB Donald Trump The latest world news makes you look around – has humanity suddenly found itself in a madhouse? Some world leaders stupidly bomb their neighbors simply because they can, others express absurd ideas that are seriously discussed at high levels. The main newsmaker in terms of statements remains US President-elect Donald Trump, who voiced his, if not imperial, then […]”, — write: businessua.com.ua
Photo: FB Donald Trump
The latest world news makes you look around – has humanity suddenly found itself in a madhouse? Some world leaders stupidly bomb their neighbors simply because they can, others express absurd ideas that are seriously discussed at high levels. The main newsmaker in terms of statements remains US President-elect Donald Trump, who voiced his, if not imperial, then new geopolitical ambitions. Briefly about – about why Trump’s statements are populist, but not as funny as it seemed before.
Give Greenland!The largest island on Earth may become the center of the biggest scandal after the corresponding statements of Trump. Despite the conviction of many that the island is one solid, lifeless glacier, about 50,000 people living and working in 18 cities live and work on it.
The area of Greenland is larger than the combined countries of France, Germany, Spain, Great Britain, Italy, Greece, Switzerland and Belgium. Photo: wikimedia.org
Greenland has the capital Nuuk, its language is Greenlandic (Danish is also common), there is its Prime Minister Mute Egede, and the local population calls itself Greenlandic Eskimos (Kalaalites). Kalaalites mainly hunt and fish. In general, Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark with the power to declare independence at any time if the referendum or parliament so wishes.
Relations with “mother” Denmark in Greenland have been strained since 2017. And the reason for that – who would have thought? – US military bases, especially abandoned ones. For example, Camp Century, which was built in the thickness of the glacier, still contains radioactive waste dumped by the American army at the end of the 60s of the XX century. Denmark cannot solve this problem, the USA is not going to.
America has repeatedly offered to buy the island. In 1946, President Truman offered Denmark $100 million for Greenland, but was refused. In 2019, Trump discussed the idea with his advisers, while Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen called the idea absurd. Out of anger, Trump did not even go to Denmark for a visit.
There are several versions of why Trump wants Greenland – and all of them require at least some kind of explanation from the author of the idea. For example, he wants to increase the number of military bases there. Or in the depths of the island there are huge deposits of rare earth metals, important for modern electronics. Or maybe the geothermal springs, which the island is rich in, can become a base for mining. Or competition with China, which managed to build three airports on the island in 2018. Or expanding its influence along the mineral-rich Arctic (the North Pole and the adjacent region of the Arctic Ocean do not currently belong to any country, but the Arctic is claimed by several countries).
Despite the large number of reasons, in addition to Trump’s loud statements in the style of “We need!”, there are still no specifics regarding Greenland. There have been no statements about the possible expansion of military bases on the island so far – only about the threat to the national security of the United States, which comes from Russia and China. But the US feels it even without Greenland.
By the way, almost 90% of Danes are against the transfer of Greenland to the United States, the Ritzau agency reports, referring to the results of the survey. Nine out of ten Danes are against the transfer of Greenland to the United States. This is the society’s reaction to Trump’s statement about wanting to gain control over the island: 89.2% of respondents answered “no”, 4.5% were positive about the idea, and 6.3% could not answer.
Donald Trump Jr. has already flown to Greenland “for reconnaissance”. Photo: X Donald Trump
Canada, join, you’ll be the 51stIn early December, already after being elected president, Trump offered Canada and Mexico to join the United States. At the same time, he stated that the US subsidizes Canada in the amount of 100 billion dollars a year, and Mexico – in the amount of 300 billion dollars.
One of Trump’s latest posts on his social networks is a map of Canada within the United States. Photo: FB Donald Trump
– We should not do this. Why are we subsidizing these countries? Let them become new states instead of subsidies, Trump suggested.
While stunned Mexico – the largest trading partner of the United States – is gasping for air, Canada – the second largest trading partner of the United States – has already bravely expressed its indignation: what subsidies, Mr. Trump, when you and I have 700 billion dollars in annual turnover? Even less with China. What state are we to you, if we ourselves do not really understand what the form of government is in Canada. Theoretically, it is a constitutional monarchy headed by the British king, who appoints Canada’s governor-general. In fact, it is a federation independent of Great Britain, with its own parliament and prime minister. And both of these forms of government are not for sale, Mr. Make-America-Great-Again!
In fact, everything is much more prosaic. The USA buys crude oil from Canada (although it also produces a lot, but the United States mainly refines oil, and Canada produces it). Oil refined in the US is sent back to Canada. Economists, of course, see the logic here, although it looks strange. And everything suited everyone, until the fragile trade balance was disturbed due to unfavorable terms of trade. Trump threatens Canada with higher tariffs, but Canada may also retaliate. And so that she does not come up with any measures – the second largest trading partner! – Trump wants to introduce it into the United States, then no tariffs, tariff wars and misunderstandings. “What a great country it would be!” (Quote from Trump on his Truth Social platform).
Canadians took Trump’s words as a threat just in case.
Trudeau’s response: “No chance of Canada becoming part of the United States.” Immediately, Elon Musk entered, “Girl, you are no longer the governor (!) of Canada, your opinion means nothing.” Screen: X Donald Trump
The Panama Canal is dear to AmericaAnd Donald Trump expressed his intention to return the Panama Canal, which connects the Pacific and Atlantic oceans and once belonged to the United States, but was finally given to Panama in 1999.
Previously, the newly elected president posted a picture of the Panama Canal with the US flag above it on Facebook. Photo: X Donald Trump
– We gave [Панамський канал] per dollar, they now take more from our ships than from the ships of other countries. We are negotiating with them [владою Панами]. They violated all aspects of agreements, and moral ones too. He [Панамський канал] “flowing” and in bad condition. They want us to give $3 billion to repair it. I told them, why don’t you ask China for money because China actually controls it, Trump said at a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago estate. – The Panama Canal was built for the army. We gave the Panama Canal to Panama and they gave it to China.
Here, of course, political scientists should take the floor and note that Trump, to put it mildly, is playing tricks. High tariffs not only for American ships passing through the canal, but for everyone. So to claim that Americans are being discriminated against and that the channel is run by China is not entirely correct. If someone wants to lower tariffs, let them justify it first with numbers in hand. Tolls for passage through the canal are charged by the state administration of the Panama Canal, their amount is set depending on the type of vessel, not its affiliation. And Panama has already said its “fe” about the fantasies of the American president.
But this is Trump – a loud “troll” who has already promised anything and disappointed half the world. It will be possible to introduce troops from it – at least to Greenland, at least to the Panama Canal. He has “America above all” – period. And how it will become “higher” – the president himself will decide.
The plot is familiar to Ukrainians, isn’t it?
Presidential level trollingTrump is now openly trolling the world, sometimes placing a map of the USA with Canada, then the American flag against the background of the Panama Canal, then addressing the Prime Minister of Canada “governor” on social networks, then sending his son to Greenland with election merch – caps and flags, claiming that everyone there is already ready to become Americans.
Question: why did he not raise the issue of Canada, Greenland and the Panama Canal during the election campaign? Answer: because he knew that the Americans would not like this idea. And without Greenland, there are a lot of problems, what is one health insurance worth, for which officials are killed on the streets. And not every American will show the Panama Canal on a map.
It looks like Trump has started a big geopolitical game, wanting to act as a savior of the world, a collector of lands – and no less. The image of “your boyfriend for everyone” already makes it difficult to understand which of his statements are serious and which are just stupid (read – a negotiating position raised above the sky). Proposing, let’s say bluntly, absurd ideas, the newly elected US president is trying to understand how this world can be bent and in which direction. So far, Trump has achieved his goal – there is only talk about him in the world…
Source: kp.ua