# Trump now wants to use military force to take the Panama Canal and Greenland **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [January 7, 2025, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691 "2025-01-07T20:27:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 46
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2026, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/901 "2026-01-21T22:41:08Z")
[https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/01/21/us/trump-davos-greenland-news](https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/01/21/us/trump-davos-greenland-news) > The announcement followed a NATO meeting on Wednesday where top military officers from the alliance’s member states discussed a compromise in which Denmark would give the United States sovereignty over small pockets of Greenlandic land where the United States could build military bases, according to three senior officials familiar with the discussion. > > The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive diplomatic matter, and they said the idea was one Mr. Rutte had been pursuing. Two of the officials, who attended the meeting, compared it to the United Kingdom’s bases in Cyprus, which are regarded as British territory. This is literally THE EXACT SAME DEAL WE ALREADY HAD WITH DENMARK. We have treaty rights from the end of WWII that allow us to build bases in Greenland subject to Danish approval. > **[The 1951 Agreement Allowing US Military in Greenland](https://www.history.com/articles/1951-agreement-that-allows-us-military-presence-in-greenland)** > > Directed by NATO, the mutual defense pact remains in effect. Mr. Art of the Deal threw a tantrum and pissed off our allies for nothing. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2026, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/902 "2026-01-21T22:50:08Z")
Anyone remember that scene from the original Star Wars film, set onboard the Millennium Falcon during a board game sort of like chess? The wise advice: “Let the Wookie win.” In this case, the wise advice is, “Let Donald Trump win (or at least think he won).” ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2026, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/903 "2026-01-21T23:33:53Z")
If I understand correctly, the difference is that, instead of merely leasing the small bits of land, the USA would actually own the small bits. Still, though, absurd buffoonery by Trump. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2026, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/904 "2026-01-21T23:42:49Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > We have treaty rights from the end of WWII that allow us to build bases in Greenland subject to Danish approval. And how about if they clean up the oil and asbestos polluted bases they left behind last time first? ---
**Author:** ![Frazzled](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frazzled/32/3368_2.png) [@Frazzled](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frazzled)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2026, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/905 "2026-01-21T23:43:38Z")
Of course, all areas now owned by the US will be called Trumpland! ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2026, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/906 "2026-01-22T04:08:53Z")
Sometimes maintaining peace ranks higher than the rights of small (in population) nations, but it is worth noting that the Greenlanders were mistreated today — by NATO leader Mark Rutte. This is a google translation of Greenlandic media: > **[Aaja Chemnitz: Nato kan ikke forhandle uden om os](https://www-sermitsiaq-ag.translate.goog/samfund/aaja-chemnitz-nato-kan-ikke-forhandle-uden-om-os/2326415?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp)** > > I denne liveblog kommer vi med opdateringer omkring den amerikanske interesse i Grønland. > [@](#): > > Greenlandic member of parliament Aaja Chemnitz (IA) wrote on Facebook on Wednesday evening that NATO cannot negotiate without Greenland: > > - NATO in no way has the sole mandate to negotiate anything without us from Greenland. Nothing about us, without us, writes Aaja Chemnitz and continues: > > - And that NATO should have anything to say about our country and minerals is completely absurd. > > The politician makes the announcement shortly after Donald Trump, following a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, announced that a framework for a future agreement on Greenland has been developed . . . Trump wants to go over the heads of the Greenlanders, so it will look like a dispute between colonial powers (Denmark and the U.S.) Greenland needs greater independence to resist this. A UN seat for Greenland would point in the right direction. Maybe Greenland should ask for a free association relationship with Denmark like the Marshall Islands has with the U.S. Making believe the crisis is over would be a mistake. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2026, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/907 "2026-01-22T04:50:02Z")
> **[Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com)](https://bsky.app/profile/atrupar.com/post/3mcxxbdz6wu2y)** > > Rutte says the status of Greenland was not discussed as part of the “framework” deal Trump announced ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2026, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/908 "2026-01-22T06:08:05Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > Trump wants to go over the heads of the Greenlanders, I think it’s possibly more accurate to say “Trump lied about his meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in order to cause more shit.” ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2026, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/909 "2026-01-22T12:57:08Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > A UN seat for Greenland would point in the right direction. The UN is irrelevant to the temper tanTrump in the White House. The Board of Peace rules now! Chairman for life: the temper tanTrump in the White House. Entry fee: 1,000,000,000.00 US$ ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2026, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/910 "2026-01-22T15:32:23Z")
trump walks into a Taco Bell. “I want tacos for around $2 & change each, and I will not accept any higher price, or else I will either tear this Taco Bell to the ground, or buy it and fire all of you worthless losers!!” “Uhhh, yeah, that’s what tacos cost-- there’s our Value Menu right there”. “Tough negotiating wins again! The art of the deal!!” ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2026, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/911 "2026-01-22T15:43:11Z")
> [@solost](#): > > trump walks into a Taco Bell. “I want tacos for around $2 & change each, and I will not accept any higher price, or else I will either tear this Taco Bell to the ground, or buy it and fire all of you worthless losers!!” I think he’d tear the place up for not getting the tacos for free, then when they tell him they’re $2.00, he’ll pay that and announce that he won. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2026, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/912 "2026-01-22T15:44:32Z")
Yeah, that works better. ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2026, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/913 "2026-01-22T15:58:17Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > I think he’d tear the place up for not getting the tacos for free, then when they tell him they’re $2.00, he’ll pay that and announce that he won. One final revision to this scenario. After his free taco idea gets shot down, he’ll somehow manage to negotiate to pay $3 for items on the $2 menu and call that a win. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2026, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/914 "2026-01-22T15:59:02Z")
> [@Pork\_Rind](#): > > After his free taco idea gets shot down, he’ll somehow manage to negotiate to pay $3 for items on the $2 menu and call that a win. Because it’s paid for with tax money and he’s pocketing the extra dollar. ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2026, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/915 "2026-01-22T15:59:33Z")
_Chef’s kiss_ ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2026, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/916 "2026-01-22T23:56:34Z")
A small article on the local impact of Trump’s statements on Greenland. > **[ERR in Greenland: US threats not yet affecting businesses on the island](https://news.err.ee/1609917740/err-in-greenland-us-threats-not-yet-affecting-businesses-on-the-island)** > > Christian Keldsen, director of the Greenland Business Association, told ERR's Astrid Kannel that U.S. threats have not yet impacted businesses on the island, though there is concern about the long-term effects. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2026, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/917 "2026-01-23T02:26:34Z")
Meanwhile, an AI-artist type under the moniker Demonflyingfox has created three videos about what Greenlanders think of any attempt to take their home. Sound on and enjoy. Sigh. And of course I never remember how to get videos to embed, so follow this [link to the guy’s video page](https://www.youtube.com/@demonflyingfox/videos?view=0&sort=dd&shelf_id=1) and click on the top three for the Greenland Defense Front. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2026, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/918 "2026-01-23T02:28:09Z")
Guess when we’ll be hearing more about the “plan”? > ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2026, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/919 "2026-01-24T17:08:07Z")
Every dollar and life we expended in Afghanistan to defend and help the USA was wasted. We should never, ever help the USA again. Not even for things like forest fires. ---
**Author:** ![Ancient\_Nerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed655f/32.png) [@Ancient\_Nerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ancient_Nerd)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2026, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691/920 "2026-01-24T20:35:24Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Guess when we’ll be hearing more about the “plan”? Two weeks is the standard business answer when schedules have been given no thought. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691.md?page=45) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-now-wants-to-use-military-force-to-take-the-panama-canal-and-greenland/1012691.md?page=47)