During a time when peace and goodwill are typically celebrated, the Trump transition team appears to have a different agenda. They took a swipe at Panama when announcing a new ambassador to the country and didn’t stop there.
In a holiday message, President Trump extended Christmas wishes to everyone, including the soldiers of China who he claims are overseeing the Panama Canal illegally. He also made bold statements about Governor Justin Trudeau of Canada, proposing the idea of Canada becoming the 51st state of the U.S. to reduce taxes and provide military protection. Additionally, Trump mentioned Greenland, suggesting it is crucial for U.S. national security and implying a strong U.S. presence there.
It’s important to note that there is no proof of Chinese soldiers managing the Panama Canal. However, considering China’s significant investments in Panama, it’s reasonable to assume they have a level of oversight due to their financial involvement.
The offer to make Justin Trudeau governor of the new state of Canada, assume control of the Panama Canal, and purchase Greenland recreates the meme floating around earlier this week.
Donald Trump looking at a meme on his phone of the U.S. buying Canada, Greenland and Panama on Amazon pic.twitter.com/Ro0uTrdMQb
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) December 24, 2024
Like so much else Trump says, this comes with more than a grain of truth.
Since returning the Panama Canal to Panamanian control in 1999, we’ve been asleep at the switch. One of the reasons we gave it up, other than the feckless Jimmy Carter and our unreasonable desire to be liked and admired by people who will always hate us, was that US aircraft carriers and supertankers could not negotiate that waterway. When that treaty was negotiated and ratified, no one was concerned about global supply chains or China buying the Panamanian government. The Carter-Torjillos Treaty cut the US out of any voice in managing the Canal, and, as we’re seeing, that may have been a blunder.
The Arctic region has become of strategic interest to China. Ice-breaker technology has made transiting it feasible, and surveys indicate the Arctic sea floor may be rich in minerals. Greenland is not defensible by Denmark militarily or diplomatically as China is actively buying its way into a position of power inside Denmark’s government and economy. An outright purchase or some sort of condominium with Denmark would make a lot of sense.
Canada is nearly as moribund as Mexico. It is also a target for China’s “elite capture” strategy.
There have been allegations and evidence of Chinese interference in Canadian elections, with reports suggesting that China has supported candidates perceived as favorable to Beijing, particularly in the 2019 and 2021 federal elections. These activities include clandestine funding, influencing nomination contests, and targeting diaspora communities
Culturally and economically, it is difficult to see how Canada can continue on its present glide path without becoming a Chinese satellite state. There are probably as many Canadians who would jump at the chance to become US citizens and avail themselves of our political and economic freedom as there are who support the increasingly fascist rule of Trudeau and his allies.
