Bradley Fitzgerald

Staff Writer

President Donald Trump’s recent remarks about the futures of Greenland and Canada has created a resurgence in interest on how the U.S. plans on carrying out negotiations on a geo-political scale.

Vice President J.D. Vance and his wife Second Lady Usha Vance visited Greenland last week, making it abundantly clear that the United States is still very intent on making Greenland a part of the United States.

Trump also announced a 25% tariff on all auto parts and vehicles imported from Canada that will go into effect April 2, 2025. Whether national relations strengthen or sour, it’s safe to say Trump certainly is negotiating his way.

The case for annexing Greenland is one that I see as most likely to occur. I understand why Trump wishes to attain Greenland; it contains valuable minerals that the United States would benefit from having. It also is located in a strategically well-suited location if the United States and Russia were ever to enter into a conflict.

Now, if the United States were to be successful in their endeavors in obtaining Greenland, through what manner would it occur? Trump has not ruled out military force as a drastic measure, which may lead to a perilous result.

To do so would strain Europe’s relationship with the U.S and alter the state of global politics in a way we haven’t seen in almost 100 years.

Denmark’s leaders have repeatedly expressed how they are not interested in handing Greenland over to the U.S. The only way to garner Greenland without disrupting the state of geopolitics would be to come to an agreement with Denmark.

Another thing to take into account is the people of Greenland’s feelings towards becoming an American territory. There has been a recent movement of Greenland being independent from Denmark. However, they wish to be independent, not a part of the United States.

Canada, our neighbor to the North, has had their relationship with the United States deteriorate since Trump has talked publicly about annexing it. I feel in the beginning, most of the resentment from Trump towards Canada was due to Justin Trudeau’s leadership as Prime Minister, but seeing that he has now stepped down, I believe Trump has strategically transitioned to making it a part of the United States.

Canada is such a large spanning nation and as a result, it would almost be impossible to annex the entire nation. I believe if the U.S were to attain it, it would only annex the part closest to the U.S and leave the northern, colder areas alone.

Canadians have no desire to become a part of the United States, so the only way such a thing would occur is with military force. I have no doubt the United States would succeed in any military effort against Canada, but that doesn’t mean they would get exactly what they want.

Making people become a part of the United States when they clearly do not want to is a disaster waiting to happen. Forcing the hand of possibly millions of people is not a way to strengthen alliances and relationships globally.

I feel the desire to garner new territories by Trump is fostered from a desire to leave behind a legacy of strength.

Trump wants to get his face on Mount Rushmore, and it appears he is following the rubric. Thomas Jefferson famously finalized the Louisiana Purchase to attain large amounts of land out West. Abraham Lincoln ignored rulings from judges regarding habeas corpus. Theodore Rosevelt spoke with a fiery vocabulary and survived an assassination attempt.

Trump is simply following the steps that lead him to Rushmore.