Editorial: Donald Trump’s statements suggesting US expansion concerning, must be opposed

President-elect Donald Trump has long expressed his admiration for Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, who is locked in a war to take control of Ukraine. If that former Soviet republic falls, Putin already has indicated that Belarus will be his next target.

In recent weeks Trump has suggested he might wish to follow Putin’s imperialist tendencies by taking over the Panama Canal, Greenland and even Canada. In a rambling news conference Tuesday, Trump hinted he might consider invading Panama and Greenland and taking them by force.

Other U.S. officials need to shut down such talk.

Trump already has alienated much of the international community with bullying tactics during his first administration, insults at other world leaders and previous expansionist declarations.

In recent weeks, Trump has said he might take over the Panama Canal if U.S. ships don’t get reduced rates for using it. He also has talked to Danish officials about buying Greenland, and as Justin Trudeau’s difficulties as Canada’s prime minister were increasing, Trump said he was thinking about annexing the country as the 51st U.S. state.

Such talk only increases the ill will that no doubt affects our diplomatic and trade prospects around the world, with little benefit.

To be sure, each of Trump’s targets offers opportunities for our nation, but each can be addressed without challenging their autonomy.

The 51-mile Panama Canal links the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, saving ships the money and time of going around the Cape Horn.

Because the two oceans are at different levels, the canal utilizes locks to raise and lower ships as they move from one end to the other. Recent droughts have lowered water levels in the area, increasing the amount of water, and the cost, needed to fill the locks. Trump’s complaint about higher rates is understandable as some 75% of all cargo that passes through the canal starts or ends in the U.S., but by law the rates are the same for all carriers. U.S. engineers designed the canal and we ran it until the 1930s. We formally ceded control at the end of 1999, which helped rebuild frayed relationships with much of Latin America.

Greenland, just a few miles off the Canadian coast at its northern end, is an obvious regional asset. Melting ice sheets is opening up shipping lanes and the land is rich with gold, silver, uranium and other deposits. Greenland is an autonomous territory of Denmark, whose leaders already have called Trump’s overtures absurd. Denmark is a member of the European Union, which reportedly already is holding talks about maintaining a united front against Trump’s bullying.

More importantly, there is no reason to alienate Canada, one of our two largest trading partners. Maintaining the ties we have long held with our northern neighbor is critical, for both economic and security reasons.

Of course, it’s always impossible to know how serious Trump is when he makes such statements or if he’ll ever follow through even if he is, but just mentioning actions against other countries undermines relationships that help us maintain the peace and prosperity we have long enjoyed.

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