Donald Trump has instructed the US may take management of Canada, Greenland and the Panama Canal in a collection of Christmas Day social media posts.
The president-elect wished a merry Christmas to all on his Reality Social platform, “including to the wonderful soldiers of China, who are lovingly, but illegally, operating the Panama Canal”.
Within the prolonged posts, Mr Trump referred to the American lives misplaced throughout the canal’s development and stated the US “puts in billions of dollars in ‘repair’ money, but will have absolutely nothing to say about ‘anything’.”
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He additionally mocked Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as “governor” and once more instructed the nation could possibly be become a US state – following comparable feedback made in latest weeks.
“If Canada was to become our 51st state, their taxes would be cut by more than 60%, their businesses would immediately double in size, and they would be militarily protected like no other country anywhere in the world,” he wrote.
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A cargo ship traverses the Panama Canal in Colon, Panama. Pic: AP
In one other put up, Mr Trump, 78, stated he had inspired former ice hockey star Wayne Gretzky to run for prime minister however he “had no interest”.
He additionally addressed “the people of Greenland, which is needed by the United States for national security purposes and, who want the US to be there, and we will!”
It comes after Mr Trump renewed the decision he made throughout his first time period in workplace for the US to purchase Greenland from Denmark.
The world’s largest island, which sits between the Atlantic and Arctic oceans, is 80% coated by an ice sheet and is house to a big US army base. Greenland gained autonomy from Denmark in 1979.
The island’s Prime Minister Mute Egede has insisted Greenland just isn’t on the market.
Mr Trump has additionally beforehand threatened to retake management of the Panama Canal, accusing Panama of charging extreme charges to make use of the essential commerce passage and warning of potential Chinese language affect.
Panama’s President Jose Raul Mulino beforehand stated his nation’s independence was non-negotiable and that China had no affect on the canal’s administration.
The canal is a essential waterway for world commerce, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and permits ships to keep away from prolonged and unsafe journeys across the southernmost tip of South America by chopping by way of the center of the Americas.
After the bold undertaking was opened in 1914, the canal and surrounding territory had been managed by the US till an settlement with Panama in 1977 paved the way in which for it to return to full Panamanian management in 1999.
China doesn’t management the canal however a subsidiary of Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison Holdings has lengthy managed two ports on the canal’s Caribbean and Pacific entrances.
