PALM BEACH, Jan 8: In a provocative and headline-grabbing Tuesday speech on his territorial ambitions for the United States, incoming US leader Donald Trump was heavy on intimidation but light on details -- leaving many wondering how seriously the comments should be taken.
In a rambling press conference at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, Trump said he would not rule out using military or economic coercion to acquire Greenland and the Panama Canal, and vowed to bring Canada to heel.
He called the border with the United States' northern neighbor an "artificially drawn line," and promised to rename the Gulf of Mexico the "Gulf of America."
The free-wheeling press conference brought to mind the Republican's many bombastic and provocative statements from his first term, when he said he would encourage Russia to "do whatever the hell they want" to NATO allies and called North Korea's leader a "rocketman on a suicide mission."
At the United Nations, the incoming US leader's latest comments won little applause.
"The charter is very clear in the need for every member state to respect the territorial integrity of other states," Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, told reporters.
On the strategic Panama Canal, which was built by the United States and then handed over to the Central American country 25 years ago, Trump said the waterway was "vital to our country."
"Look, the Panama Canal is vital to our country. It's being operated by China -- China! -- and we gave the Panama Canal to Panama, we didn't give it to China," Trump said. "And they've abused it, they've abused that gift."
Panama has repeatedly denied Trump's allegations that China has been given a role in running the canal or is given preferential rates to use it.
As for Greenland, an autonomous territory of longtime US ally Denmark, Trump said: "We need Greenland for national security
purposes."
Canada will also soon be brought into the fold, Trump promised. —AFP
