From Panama Canal to Syria: Trump lays out his vision for global leadership

In a series of statements made at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, Trush Social platform and while speaking to reporters, US President-elect Donald Trump addressed a wide array of key foreign policy issues that he plans to tackle once in office. From the Panama Canal to NATO defence spending, Trump's remarks painted a picture of a tough, assertive global strategy.

Panama Canal under US control?

Trump revealed that he has initiated talks with Panama regarding the future control of the Panama Canal, a strategic waterway that the US handed over to Panama in 1999. "They laugh at us because they think we are stupid, but we are no longer stupid," Trump said. "The Panama Canal is being discussed with them right now." Trump claimed that Panama has violated "every clause of the agreement" after the handover, and he argued that Panama charges the US higher fees for naval forces than other nations. He expressed dissatisfaction with the terms of the original deal and suggested that the canal may once again come under US control.

NATO spending set to surge

Trump also made clear his intentions to push NATO member states to increase their defence spending to 5% of their GDP, well above the current 2% target. "Well, I think NATO should have [defence spending at the rate of] 5% [of member states’ GDP]," Trump said. "NATO countries would not be able to achieve their objectives with funding at 2% of GDP." The President-elect emphasized that countries falling short of the 2% threshold would not receive military aid, reflecting his tough stance on defence contributions within the alliance.

Tough stance on hostages and Middle East conflict

Turning to the ongoing situation in the Middle East, Trump issued a stark warning regarding hostages held by Hamas. "If the hostages are not released by the time I get to the office, a real hell will break out in the Middle East," Trump declared, warning that the consequences would be severe not just for Hamas, but for everyone involved. Although he refrained from detailing his strategy, he made it clear that the situation would escalate if hostages were not freed.

Mistakes in Ukraine talks: Trump criticizes Biden administration

Trump also took the opportunity to criticize the Biden administration's handling of negotiations over Ukraine. "Many mistakes were made during these negotiations," Trump said, adding that he had anticipated conflict when he heard Biden’s approach to the issue. He pointed to Russia’s objections to NATO expansion and noted that he understood Russia’s reluctance to see Ukraine join the alliance. Trump suggested that Russia's position on Ukraine was a key factor in the current conflict, but he refrained from offering specifics on how he would approach the matter as president. Trump also noted that Russian President Vladimir Putin would likely want to meet with him, though he emphasized that such a meeting would have to wait until after his inauguration on January 20.

Greenland acquisition and trade wars

Trump revisited his controversial proposal to purchase Greenland, a move that was met with strong opposition from Denmark during his previous term. "Donald Trump Jr. and my representatives from the Republican Party arrived in Greenland. The reception was wonderful!" Trump posted on his social media account, underscoring his ambition to secure the island for the US. "This deal must happen. MAGA. Let’s make Greenland great again!" he added.

In another bold move, Trump vowed to impose "very serious tariffs" on goods from Mexico and Canada due to the high level of drug trafficking through both countries. "The drugs that pass through their territories have reached record levels. We will compensate for this by introducing significant tariffs," Trump stated, signalling a tougher approach to trade relations with the US neighbours.

Renaming the Gulf and immigration policies

In a striking move to assert US identity, Trump announced his intention to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the "American Gulf." He argued, "It covers a vast area – the American Gulf. What a beautiful name. And it's appropriate." Trump also renewed his criticism of Mexico's migration policies, accusing the country of failing to control the flow of migrants and drugs into the US. "Mexico must stop allowing millions of people to sneak into our country," he said, vowing to impose heavy tariffs as compensation for the damage caused by illegal immigration and smuggling.

Türkiye’s role in Syria

Trump also emphasized Türkiye's critical role in the situation in Syria. He described Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as both a "friend" and a "person I respect." Trump noted that Türkiye’s cooperation is crucial to the success of US strategies in the region. Reflecting on his previous term, Trump reiterated the defeat of the Daesh terrorist group and mentioned that he had successfully withdrawn most US troops from Syria. While Trump did not disclose specifics on troop withdrawals, he stated, "It's a Türkiye-related situation," highlighting Ankara's strategic importance.

A unified North America?

In a shocking revelation, Trump shared an image on his Truth Social page showing a unified map of the United States and Canada, coloured in one shade to represent a merged state.

This sparked discussion about Trump's future vision of North America. The map, which depicts the two countries as one, indicates Trump's openness to the idea of a unified state. "Canada and the United States are painted in one colour on it, thus forming one state called the United States," Trump noted, signalling his long-term vision for North American unity.

In sum, President-elect Donald Trump laid out a range of bold proposals and criticisms that reflect his assertive, no-nonsense approach to foreign policy. Whether these plans come to fruition will depend on how his administration navigates both global diplomacy and domestic politics in the years ahead.

By Tamilla Hasanova