Trump sets out territorial ambitions

Seeks control of Panama Canal, Greenland

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PALM BEACH:

President-elect Donald Trump declined on Monday to rule out military or economic action as part of his avowed desire to have the U.S. take back control of the Panama Canal and acquire Danish-controlled Greenland.

Asked at a press conference whether he would avoid using military or economic coercion in Panama and Greenland, Trump said, "No, I can't assure you on either of those two. But I can say this, we need them for economic security."

The extraordinary statement came as Trump further outlined an expansionist agenda, two weeks before he is sworn into office at the Jan. 20 inauguration in Washington.

Trump also vowed to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America and repeated his promise to impose significant tariffs on Mexico and Canada. "It covers a lot of territory," he said of the Gulf. "'The Gulf of America.' What a beautiful name."

His promise to rename the Gulf echoed his previous vow to revert the name of Denali, the highest mountain peak in North America, to Mount McKinley. Former President Barack Obama changed the name of the Alaskan mountain in deference to Native Americans.

Typically, the US Board of Geographic Names sets geographic names, though presidents have also renamed geographic features via executive action.

Trump said he will move quickly to revoke an offshore oil and gas drilling ban announced by outgoing Democratic President Joe Biden. "Banning offshore drilling will not stand. I will reverse it immediately," Trump said.

He added: "I will revoke the offshore oil, gas drilling ban in vast areas on day one." Republican Trump takes office on Jan 20, but could find it difficult to reverse Biden's order to withdraw 625 million acres (253 million hectares) of ocean from new offshore oil and gas development.

The 70-year-old Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act allows presidents to remove areas from mineral leasing and drilling but does not grant them the legal authority to overturn prior bans, according to a 2019 court ruling - meaning a reversal would likely require an act of Congress.

Trump said he would take the matter to court if necessary. Trump also said his administration would open up oil and gas development in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and would seek to block new wind projects. "We're going to try and have a policy where no windmills are being built," Trump said.