Tectonic Trump
Donald Trump seems to be in a foreign policy frenzy and is eyeing Canada and Greenland as plausible destinations to hoist the Star-Spangled Banner. Unlike conventional American meddling in under-developed countries with wars and annexations, the upcoming leadership in Washington is out to take on the allies, and that too in a hegemonic frame of mind. Apparently, it is a synopsis of undoing the prevalent Rules-based Order and pushing the interstate relations back to the early 20th century module. By annoying Canada and Denmark, and likewise, purporting plans to take over the Panama Canal, Trump is fomenting a policy of confrontation in his endeavour to expand America's sphere of influence.
Some of the talking points from the incoming President depict some tectonic trends. Having lived in tranquility with a gigantic landmass of Canada in the north, Trump believes it's time to erase the borders and make it the 51st state of the US. His election campaign was abuzz with a carrot and stick policy, wherein he threatened to slap Ottawa with 25% tariffs, concocting a political turmoil in the western hemisphere. Likewise, Trump refused to rule out the possibility of using military force to acquire the world's largest island, Greenland, from Danish suzerainty, and put the Panama Canal under Washington's control, literally for unannounced national security compulsions.
Trump, probably, wants to leave behind a heroic legacy and is trying to put himself in the shoes of his predecessors such as William McKinley and Eisenhower who added Alaska and Hawaii, and Puerto Rico, respectively, under American domain. But will he be able to do so at a time when the world is sliding into multipolarity is anybody's guess.
At the same time, Elon Musk taking on the British PM and the French President mulling a ban on 'X' are incidents of undesired confrontation. Moreover, a snobbish rejoinder from Ontario premier, Doug Ford, hinting at the likelihood of Canada "buying" Alaska and Minnesota; and France warning a tit-for-tat if any brinkmanship was resorted to in Europe are instant cases of deteriorating ties.