Trump Does Not Rule Out Military Force to Acquire Panama Canal, Greenland; Floats Gulf of Mexico Renaming

Speaking to reporters less than two weeks before taking office, President-elect Donald Trump spoke about wanting the U.S. to take control of the Panama Canal and Greenland. Trump did not rule out the use of military force to take control, declaring U.S. control of the Panama Canal and Greenland to be vital to American national security.

In a related story, Trump says that he would move to try to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America”. Trump did not say how his administration would plan to do that. The Gulf of Mexico is sometimes referred to as the U.S.’ “Third Coast” due to its coastline across five states. Trump has also floated having Canada join the U.S. as part of his suggestions to redraw the map of North America.