What Trump's Panama Canal threats reveal about today's geopolitics | Ian Bremmer's Quick Take

[@GouverPanel]

I hope we all know that it doesn't matter who is in the 'top job' because this is a systemic problem -- greed. We have allowed many of our economic sectors, to take advantage of the American people. It's disgusting and frightening for the future of our country. My husband and I will be retiring in the next two years n another country. We are absolutely worried that SS! will no longer be funded. we'll have to rely on his pension, a 403 (b) and a very prolific Investment account with Stephanie Janis Stiefel my FA. Our national debt is bloating and expanding every month. Our government needs to get spending under control and cut the federal budget.

[@KarencitaSacher]

I know this lady you just mentioned. Stephanie Janis Stiefel is a portfolio manager and investment advisor. She gained recognition as an employee of neuberger berman; a renowned investor she is. Stephanie Janis Stiefel has demonstrated expertise in investment strategies and has been involved in managing portfolios and providing guidance to clients.

[@emmabeyza6036]

I’m planning on moving to Thailand in the next 5 years if trump’s government doesn’t do anything with the high prices of groceries and taxes What about you??

[@ohmakure4716]

I went from no money to Invest with to busting my A** off on Uber eats for four months to raise about $20k to start trading with Stephanie Janis Stiefel. I am at $128k right now and LOVING that you have to bring this up here

[@MafArdoleda]

My sister lives in Aussie. They have good healthcare better than America. I am also moving there after I retire.

[@YaxelBurone]

Please stop gentrifying countries

[@vanveakrin276]

The Dutch can take back Hudson river and New York city which was originally Dutch.. Don't forget Hudson Bay

[@MrMoraltv]

@@vanveakrin276 come and get it back

[@beibei93]

@@vanveakrin276 with what army?

[@kevinpaulson-yb4cc]

@@vanveakrin276 Ummm Actually, the original inhabitants were native Americans.

[@keeziwalks]

@@beibei93 its seems the argument is who build it. We "the Dutch " build new york

[@charliemcmillin1066]

They can try.

[@marymarlow3646]

Actually, Trump should give America back to the indigenous people it used to belong to.

[@ysamuelarai]

Mexico wants California back.

[@archigoel]

They can take it by force. Only truth is force, all other virtues and laws are built upon it.

[@kluge4206]

@@marymarlow3646 do they want to live in the old ways?

[@tjones44236]

I voted against the anti-white party when I chose Trump

[@ssuwandi3240]

So what were ingenious people's contributions to Today's America? Just shouting the land is Mine, Wokeness? No thanks I don't want that deranged part..

[@CamiloSanchez1979]

He hasn't taken possesion of the presidency but the drama and foolishness already started. Four. More. Years. Of idiocy.

[@TrendyStone]

Yea! No idiocy with that last administration. In fact…not even a functioning president!

[@CamiloSanchez1979]

@TrendyStone blah blah blah.

[@TrendyStone]

@@CamiloSanchez1979 LOL

[@mongoharry7765]

Now we'll have a functioning dictatorship.

[@mongoharry7765]

​@@TrendyStoneNow we'll have a functioning dictatorship....And our grandchildren will probably have one too. Merry Christmas.

[@sannip7404]

The US has been powerful exactly because it was liked in many countries and had friends in many places - if the US starts acting like swine internationally, there is no longer a need to respect them. Thus the US will lose power. Sure, the US has money, although even that hangs on other countries buying US treasuries. Many doors opened exactly because the US was acting stately, and in a respectful manner to other states. If that goes, a lot of the US status will go as well. The State Department needs to be shrunk by at least one third - because the US has been using the State department to go around the world and lecture other societies about "rule of law", "respect for minorities", "equality", "fighting corruption" and what not - all of the principles that the new US president and his billionaire backers are now breaking. Careful what you wish for, America.

[@JoannDavi]

Who will you turn to instead? Russia? China? L(MAO) There are no other, better alternatives.

[@gerhardh5690]

No Problem with China. Why should we become slaves of a bunch of billionaires. This is not a democracy, its an oligarchy and I will not defend them in any way

[@superchi31]

​ @JoannDavi you know the reason he is saying that about Panama is cause China is investing a lot of money in panama, which he sees as an economic threat

[@bartstewart8644]

@@superchi31 Donald Trump had a personal business problem in Panama. He wasn't paying his taxes and they foreclosed on some of his properties. That is what this is about. Trump only looks out for Number One.

[@sannip7404]

@@JoannDavi Many people like China now. But we have our own - Europe. We just need to arm ourselves.

[@briancolwell2274]

Can you imagine if China made these types of declarations….

[@DrMarkyMark]

Done and Done! China’s Wolf Warrior diplomacy! Ask Vietnam, Taiwan, the Philippines, or India about China’s threats!

[@orlandoestrella9185]

The US are buying land they are not invading it and annrx it to their territory, nit like china on tibet and russia on siberia.

[@vehx9316]

@@DrMarkyMark yeah, and their responses aren't great, like what does Trump think was going to happen ? That Panama will roll over to his demands ?

[@SK-lt1so]

😂😂😂 USA has rammed and attacked Greenland ships? Id_ot

[@paulheydarian1281]

U just wait! 😉🤣

[@deborahhebblethwaite1865]

Trump is starting to sound more and more like Putin every day🇨🇦

[@mc-lb9dk]

wishfulthinking but hope you are right

[@tedthoman6580]

Donnie is Putler's poodle

[@faketrump3605]

pure lie. what did Putin say?

[@Yasen99]

Putin’s not first. Think about the Monroe Doctrine or Cecil Rhode’s plans to solve the unemployment problem in the UK or Bentham’s plans to populate Australia…

[@smoochie3331]

Putin never wants to purchase neighbors countries. He wants them for free 😊

[@rossbaker9721]

Trump is only going to isolate America and Americans in the world. As an Aussie I want nothing to do with America.

[@mc-lb9dk]

nobody wants and the US is isolated since the sixties

[@afreezaphorogiancossack2194]

And as an American I don't blame you. I'm so ashamed of this mess.

[@grumpyoldcat8302]

@@rossbaker9721 please don’t shun the people. There will be many fleeing for a better life in the coming years and decades, please try to have mercy on them despite all the country has done and will do

[@rossbaker9721]

@ what happened man America used to be cool? Is it your media? Like globalisation hollowed out a lot of western countries, are your politicians just more corrupt? Was it Iraq?

[@rossbaker9721]

@ sure 70 million of you are somewhat sane.

[@nicholaidajuan865]

How powerful will America be once it looses its allies, and access to the worlds resources?

[@Medicine91]

@@nicholaidajuan865 why would anyone refuse to sell to the largest consumer market?

[@jjhpor]

The US will remain the biggest bully in the western hemisphere.

[@millerrepin4452]

the reason you allied with the U.S. in the first place was for it's power projection. If the U.S. abuses it power to maintain its power the underlying reason for joining still remains the same if anything can be emboldened because of it.

[@TimSmith-v4z]

Hard power is necessary and useful but for the day to day business of ensuring global commerce flows smoothly and keeps our economies warm, it is soft power that gets the job done. You cannot bully your way out of everything.

[@markalbert9011]

@@StephenRoss-po1rp Yep. That fellow doesn't understand capitalism and how we got in this mess in the first place

[@sergeysviridov689]

The same logic Russia could require Alaska back

[@montegeorge230]

Between the Bolshevik horror (e.g., anti christian pogroms, Holomodor), WWII and the cold war, Russia has suffered 100s of millions of deaths and serious declines in birth rates. Russia does not seek to capture territory; it needs more population, not more land or resources. It is Israel, through it's USA vassal state, that seeks to conquer other lands and become the world's ruling empire.

[@afreezaphorogiancossack2194]

They joke about that, I've heard, they're going to make Russia Great Again and take Alaska back.

[@Post-it2363]

And the Dutch will claim New York back 😊

[@freedomsong9747]

And the french Louisiana 😂

[@jjhpor]

...and the Normans London.

[@shehzadshah4104]

I think it is difficult to find an example where the US upheld international law, ever, when it was in opposition to perceived US interests. It's more likely that the post-WWII era was relatively more stable and secure, than earlier periods, because of the two superpower balance, and global security started to erode soon after one of the supers collapsed. There would've been no unilateral American invasion of Iraq in a world with the Soviet Union in place.

[@jmhorange]

Well every country wants to uphold international law when it's in their own interests, and don't when it's in opposition to its interests. The US is no different in that regard. The problem is the US increasingly doesn't want to uphold international law when it IS in their own interests to uphold it. Taking the Panama canal and Greenland is a prime example. Neither of which will help US national security. What it will do is signal to the world, the post WW2 American led world over is over, take whatever land you want while they system is in flux and countries need to get to work building a new system of international laws. American success depends on the post WW2 world order staying in place, but Trump is ready to torch that. Same with his desire for Europe to put 5 percent of their GDP toward NATO. Europe can barely afford 2 percent without political instability. By forcing Europe to go over that, it risks weakening Europe and the US benefits greatly from having a friendly Europe dependent on US military might. They are not taking advantage of the US as Trump claims but knocked out of being a superpower that can challenge the US by relying on the US military. Every empire from the Soviet Union, to the British Empire, all the way back to Rome think they are the good guys and have values. How can any country exist if they don't believe in something? What makes them the good guys is they ensure peace and stability. When they aren't interested in that, when they are willing to rip up peace and security, they decline or collapse. The US increasingly doesn't value peace and security and the post WW2 World order, the very thing that made it a superpower in the first place.

[@kluge4206]

What are US interests? Powerful allies that pay their share

[@nizicike759]

That why US persuade Russian to give up USSR

[@TrendyStone]

Bretton Woods? Marshall Plan? I suppose freedom, democracy and rule-of-law post WWII is in everyone’s interest.

[@TexasSiege]

The US could’ve taken over the world in 1945 but instead chose to rebuild Europe and Japan while courting nations to join the UN to better handle strife, conflict and human suffering

[@RyanSemmel77]

A US/Danish war in Greenland wasn’t exactly on my bingo card ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@runna-x5h]

@@RyanSemmel77 mine is all screwed up,I used my free space on "paint b!den orange"

[@Maltechr]

You mean US/NATO war.. would be real bad

[@zoranocokoljic8927]

I expect Danes to offer to buy Texas, or exchange it for Greenland.

[@tjones44236]

Canada could pull it off by switching monarchs to Frederik X

[@nelbelmont]

as a panamanian... i feel the same... i guess that card was hidden too here... 2025 starting with a deranged orange person wanting something already owned by another legally. if the give back card is on..then ...texas california, alaska, Louisiana are changing hands... to mexico and france

[@siegfriedhekimi6857]

Sorry, but ‘historically’ America always played the bully.

[@cademosley4886]

I wouldn't disagree, but Trump has no knowledge of US history, politics, culture, or values. You can't really draw a line from a con he is personally running to enrich himself & attack his personal enemies to anything "American".

[@jonathanbowen3640]

Not really.

[@jasonchuc]

Nooo REALLY!!

[@claudinefiona9698]

Exactly, why is Ian pushing propaganda

[@TrendyStone]

Marshall Plan? Bretton Woods?

[@alanabowker1363]

Who knew that electing someone who speaks about himself in the third person would have negative consequences?

[@tjones44236]

Why would I vote for a party that thinks straight white guys have too much?

[@georgecc]

What negative consequences? Saying something doesn't simply make it so. Please be specific.

[@alanabowker1363]

@@georgecc Threatening to pull out of NATO and collapse worldwide democracy. DUH.

[@tjk3430]

As an American I want to visit Greenland as a tourist, not own it.

[@slimjimnyc270]

There are only 57k in Greenland. If we gave each person $1 million each ($57 billion total) to join the USA, it still would be a bargain in the long run.

[@Maltechr]

@slimjimnyc270 would you sell your country for a million?

[@AndersTuresson-w1e]

@@slimjimnyc270 Yes. But behind Greenland is Denmark and behind Denmark is the EU and the UK. Can the USA afford to loose its friends and allies? What kind of nation does it want to be?

[@mariusmatei2946]

Only the Americans "think" (strictly) in transactional terms!​@@slimjimnyc270

[@slimjimnyc270]

@AndersTuresson-w1e Are you saying if the USA convinces everybody in Greenland to join the US, Denmark will stop the Greenlanders? Doesn't Denmark respect the wishes of Greenland? P.S. I personally don't care if Greenland joins the USA or not.

[@MYRRHfamily]

“American exceptionalism” is going to kill us all. Being compared to Russia in our geopolitics should disturb Americans. They’re too busy with football.

[@IamdeaththedestroyerofWorlds]

America is worse than Russia for most of the world. It has caused lot more death in destruction than Russians have in last 30 years. Even if you compare America to Soviet Union after world war 2 then also America is worse.

[@TonyGalla-kw4hw]

Ditto

[@kevindonovan6727]

@@MYRRHfamily yes one of the largest and most powerful of the distractions ; storms , Swifties , and stocks are right up there this last half of '24 .

[@deniswhitburn2626]

Mexico wants Texas returned... France wants Louisiana back... Russia, Alaska... Dominoes...

[@diosdelcielo]

México wants....Texas... California...new México...utha... Arizona.....😂😂😂

[@georgecc]

You know what they say - Want in one hand, 💩 in the other and see which one gets full faster. If you want something on the world stage you better be strong and dominant. Otherwise - poop.

[@StroneyGoney]

These guys have trouble passing a simple continuing resolution; it will be fun to see the circus around Greenland acquisition, let alone the hostile takeover of Panama canal

[@sylvie38344]

Geez, they couldn't take Cuba. They lost the Bay of Pigs, and Vietnam.

[@agnostic5870]

I can see Trump telling Russia, Ukraine is all yours, telling China, he won't interfere in Taiwan ... just leave the US alone in our hemisphere and all is good by him.

[@leemartinez2975]

Great insight! If the US continues down its path of might makes right, I wonder if countries will start to isolate the US in terms of diplomacy and trade in order to cripple the US over a few decades.

[@tedthoman6580]

Dump is an idiotic grifter

[@user-cp6ev6fy1q]

@@leemartinez2975 It's already happening. MAGA will say "it's just a joke" but other people don't enjoy continuously being threatened, bullied, and having their sovereignty and national identity disrespected. Not on country can take down the US, but they will pivot to protect themselves and as soon as there is an opportunity to fvcc the US over, they will. As of now, the US has a reputation of being a terrible ally and that of an untrustworthy country that agrees to treaties when it's weak and then breaks agreements when its convenient.

[@kennethkong5484]

BRICS

[@TrendyStone]

@@kennethkong5484BRICS is a collection of protectionist countries that don’t get along and have high tariffs against each other.

[@georgecc]

Yeah, no.

[@jcwoodman5285]

He wants Panama & Greenland but sure doesn't show interest in caring for past conquered lands like say Puerto Rico...

[@johnryman-f3c]

PR is lost to the gangs

[@brownyysnoopy]

Puerto rico is lost to inept and corrupt politicians..

[@concernedcitizens4110]

By that logic Russia could claimed all of the former Soviet republics and Alaska, China can claim Taiwan and all of South China Sea, Mongolia can claim both Asia and Europe, and Britain could claim all of 64 Commonwealth countries.

[@hitthedeck4115]

They could if they have the power to impose the claims. That's why balance of power in international relations is important to peace and security, so when a country is out of line in its display of power, it will be countered by another (or others). If the balance of power is stable, then such thing wouldn't happen in the first place.

[@Rob-vc6xw]

also america would cease to exist because the over many hundreds of native groups would get their land back also

[@polysopher]

Then we’ll go back to dark ages if Following that logic Russia decides to use nuclear bombs

[@kevingoodwin5177]

@@Rob-vc6xw The native groups lost ... too late now.

[@bartstewart8644]

@@kevingoodwin5177 And the canal has belonged to sovereign Panama for 25 years. But what are we even talking about? Trump isn't going to invade anybody, except maybe for a short-term failure of an invasion of some Democrat cities under the guise of rounding up immigrants. (To send where? What country is going to receive them? Have you heard?) It's all just Trump talk. Doesn't mean a thing.

[@samanthajones4877]

Countries around the world needs to beef up their defenses otherwise the US will bring them some good old fashion freedom and democracy.

[@pimentoso]

France 🇨🇵: I want back the Louisiana territory. Russia 🇷🇺: I want Alaska back. Mexico 🇲🇽: I want back California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. Spain 🇪🇸: I want back Florida, Cuba and PR. The Netherlands 🇳🇱: I want New York back.

[@garyyoung3179]

The UK wants back its 13 former colonies, plus Washington as it was part of Canada and Florida as Spain gave it to the UK in exchange for Cuba after the 7 yrs War.

[@thorin1045]

would be simpler to just bring up the indians, they probably want the entire usa back...

[@evulclown]

*_UK swaggers in_* Come to Daddy.

[@pimentoso]

@evulclown 👍🏼🙌🏼🫱🏻‍🫲🏼

[@OGWolfofAI]

Don’t worry Greenland you’re totally fine. Trump can’t spell it, much less find it on a map.

[@bartstewart8644]

Trump can't spell hamburger. Seriously! On Twitter he misspelled HAMBURGER on multiple occasions!

[@georgecc]

Yeah. And hug your blanket tight too if that helps you get through the day and night. That cope will help you tremendously. Meanwhile in the REAL world....

[@bartstewart8644]

@@georgecc In the real world, enough Americans were brainwashed by 30 years of Fox News to vote for a certifiable lunatic who spray-paints his face orange, and - yes - cannot spell hamburger. We are now about to see how that works out for them in the real world.

[@buzzlightyear3715]

Trump would not know where Panama is. Yesterday or today.

[@georgecc]

He had a Trump hotel in Panama for years. It was one of the tallest buildings in the Bahia and the skyline. You really should get out more.

[@DoctorIntrepid]

Just say it, might is right approach to geopolitics. Ideals be damned.

[@bartstewart8644]

MAGA already has said exactly that. Well, that is, when they aren't lecturing everybody about the saving grace of the blood of Jesus.

[@jamesshen401]

Why can Israel make territorial claims on a selective biblical map and China not based on its own selective historical map?

[@willengel2458]

the empire simply took part of Colombia, yes Panama was part of Colombia in spite of objection from Colombia. there may come a day the native Hawaiians want their country back.

[@kennethkong5484]

Seems we forgot. Every 4 years , another President takes out his carving knife

[@girthbloodstool339]

Trump's trolling of Trudeau makes Trudeau's position in Canada better, not worse. Trudeau's position was already terrible before this began. Nothing ralliies Canadians so much as Yankee bullying.

[@charliemcmillin1066]

@@girthbloodstool339 then why a no confidence vote and resignation?

[@kluge4206]

@@girthbloodstool339 what I’m seeing is the opposite,yes,a few individuals are trying to rally with Trudeau,but mostly this circumstance highlights his failings and is causing the populace to want a change Besides,these individuals should have been outraged at the mistreatment of our true patriots, the veterans and seniors

[@johnryman-f3c]

nonsense

[@girthbloodstool339]

@@johnryman-f3c vote for the Wayner.

[@robertortiz-wilson1588]

Lol, cope.

[@usiohaki295]

He only looks at the contracts that favour US and ignored the rest… hence he clinged to the 1903 convention and ignore the 1977 panama canal treaty.

[@MB-xe8bb]

Something like 50% of US company profits comes from outside the US. Does the US really want to make its customers mad at them?

[@CodyLondon]

The transactional aspect you speak of is not much different than the past. It's just out in the open, laid bare.

[@62426637]

Merry Christmas Ian

[@lauriemahood9347]

Is anybody noticing that Trump is mirroring Putin?

[@TheLittleLadyCook]

It felt very sad to see the whole online unfolding. Especially as a Panamanian living in the USA. I'm a new American and blessed to live here, but really sad and more right on the anniversary of the US invasion of Panama 😢

[@bartstewart8644]

The ones I feel sorry for are the Americans living in Panama! And there are TONS of them. Panama has been the #1 retirement destination for Americans for decades. What are they feeling right now???

[@TheLittleLadyCook]

@bartstewart8644 very valid point. I hope nothing violent has come out of this with their experience living in Panama.

[@markfeland2285]

Don't expect Trump to abide by international law or treaties, he certainly doesn't respect law at home

[@Aritul]

True

[@bosterweis5543]

Ian, it seems to me that Kissenger always saw things from a balance of power perspective, where that balance kept things relatively stable, while Zbignew Brezinski clearly laid out what would ensue as US-led order/ dominance recedes.

[@earth7451]

Wait, will France ask the USA to return the Statue of Liberty?

[@bartstewart8644]

They might as well. It was a welcome sign for immigrants. We don't welcome immigrants anymore. Russians, maybe.

[@joysachs9032]

Most sensible commentary. Thanks .... just subscribed. All best wishes going forward.

[@tomjensen618]

As a Dane I would like to make a counter offer. We buy Wa. state. Universal healthcare for all on day one! A Democratic state where an estimated 4 % would vote for Trump, what's not to like. Massive immigration of a highly skilled workforce would follow.

[@SK-lt1so]

YES! And please take Illinois too! Thanks!

[@newenglandgreenman]

@@SK-lt1so Please take Massachusetts.

[@solracer66]

I'd be ok with that though historically we were part of Canada so that would make more sense.

[@TrendyStone]

Will you take Oregon off our hands too? It’s certainly a fixer upper.

[@solracer66]

@@TrendyStone Just the western half, everything past Bend is basically Idaho...

[@davetekannon]

54% of Crimeans wanted to stay in Ukraine in the 1991 referendum. 90% of Ukrainians wanted to stay in Ukraine in the other annexed provinces according to data I have seen. Please check your sources. Aside from that, Ian, may we wish you and your family a well-deserved and tremendously Happy Holidays! You have done your country and us across the world from you a great service in providing your skilled and well-researched analyses of uncountable world problems and wars and diplomatic tussles and the like. What I can leave you with is that why I have not been able to put up the Christmas lights and decorations and have a great feast on Christmas day. The reason is that I cannot bring myself to forget the pain and death on the Ukrainian frontlines nor the unbelievable suffering in Gaza and other middle east hot spots, nor the unidentifiable and mystifying aerial phenomena in your country and now across the world that has Uncle Joe and every other leader biting their tongues and saying little to nothing about what is going on. We are a world on the brink of global confrontation and I hope I am wrong, because the last thing we need right now is to have our planet go through another existential threat.

[@ashkiler]

Why don't you present your sources and explain what kind of 1991 referendums you are talking about?

[@davetekannon]

@@ashkiler GGGGGGGGreat to hear from you. Your are right to ask this and I got my information from Professor Gerdes.

[@ashkiler]

@@davetekannon Gerdes who? And still- which 1991 referendums are you talking about?

[@davetekannon]

@@ashkiler en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1991_Ukrainian_sovereignty_referendum GGGGGGGGGGreat to hear from you. This is one way of seeing how things turned out. Type in Professor Gerdes and you'll see his channel.

[@viggoholmsen7203]

You're wrong about Crimea wanting to be part of Russia and not Ukraine. It is an unsubstantiated claim that the historical facts do not support.

[@lupus7194]

OK, show us the evidence. Put up or shut up.

[@viggoholmsen7203]

@@lupus7194 Pls check the results of the '91 independence referendum. The '14 referendum was obviously rigged and under duress.

[@kenmare16]

Might is right again. The big question is who will save smaller weaker countries from the USA. Or will they find a way to protect themselves?

[@renzopinasco2206]

On the Panama issue, it will be opposed by south america. We dont have the strength but we can be a really annoying for a long time.

[@johnm7267]

Yemen is an example to us all

[@henriknordlund5568]

As a person from Europe, I am very glad that we have the EU. It was created as a postimperial/antiimperial space and enabler. For the rest of the world, the EU model stand as a source of inspiration.

[@jonathanbowen3640]

@@henriknordlund5568 The EU is pretty whack though let's be honest. Look at the response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. It had no coherent response, no endgame in mind, no strategy.

[@henriknordlund5568]

@jonathanbowen3640 True, but it has been more united and succesful than most people are really aware of. It did field multiple sanction packages, supported by all member states even by the rightwing populistist governments such as Hungary. The EU has also channelled far more financial aid and humantarian support to Ukraine than the US, and unlike the US case it is genuine sacrifices all the way, while the US aid is mainly a job creation program inside the US for US businesses. I believe that if you are going to judge something you have to do so on its merits. It is not the EU:s fault, that the common budget, and other resources such as intelligence, external action planning etc are so meager compared to the federal government of the US. The EU itself - meaning the commision for instance under van Leyen - have been solid, and have done the best with the tools they actually have had. I do agree that the member states have let eachother down by not orchastrating a common scheme, with common financing on how to actually enforce the sanctions in practice and finding alternatives to oil and gas from Putin's Russia. That has been bad.

[@petermartin1954]

Perhaps a Germany could kidnap and retain Elon Musk, then they could hold them for ransom against the US. How much would Trump and them pay to get them back, free trade, deal, no compete, clause, no tariff on German cars.😂

[@zachjones6944]

That's the spirit!

[@josesuicune27]

That would be an act of war imagine germany kidnapping the president!

[@cindybogart6062]

Leave Greenland alone!

[@charlesurban3230]

This is more BOGUS BUPKIS Trump thinking out loud and saying silly things. He's not doing a thing with Greenland!! The Danes and the Greelanders absolutely have no interest is making (yet another Trump) deal--and have said so.

[@renzopinasco2206]

and Panama!

[@TrendyStone]

Free Greenland from Dutch imperialism!

[@kenphillips7594]

Well his threats against Mexico, Canada, the EU Aand UK didn't work so the bully thinks he'll try someone smaller. It bears an eerie similarity to Putin and Ukraine.

[@sumdude4281]

France liberate us from MAGA and we'll call it even.

[@jacqdanieles]

Aren't we already even? They helped in the war of independence, we helped them in ww2.

[@sumdude4281]

@@jacqdanieles You missed WWI

[@jacqdanieles]

@sumdude4281 I stand corrected

[@georgecc]

Still salty I see.

[@jjhpor]

Trump's empty threats define a new version of Teddy Roosevelt's "bully pulpit". The phrase has descended from Teddy's description of a powerful locus of elocution to a school-yard thug's hang out.

[@SenorJuan2023]

Why is Greenland "necessary" when we've never owned it before without any issues?

[@TrendyStone]

He’s just having fun. Trolling.

[@bartstewart8644]

@@TrendyStone A hotel bellhop can have fun trolling, but a president of the United States is supposed to be a little more serious. In fact, a bellhop can get in trouble over crap like this.

[@thorin1045]

not really know what is under the snow, but probably could be a major resource source. also, just the snow itself as clean water.

[@SenorJuan2023]

@@thorin1045 hahahahahahaha

[@TrendyStone]

@ 🤔 Fascinating analysis

[@xrusous]

The most powerful? What happened in Vietnam,Afghanistan and Iraq?

[@agnostic5870]

The United States of Amnesia

[@dp999_9]

@@agnostic5870 don’t confuse an all out war and trying to impose an ideology

[@TrendyStone]

Meh… Every empire fails in Afghanistan going all the way back to Alexander the Great. And China and USSR couldn’t govern Vietnam either.

[@ToonTownDano]

Wow. I never thought I’d see the day Ian Bremner would same wash Trump.

[@orlandoestrella9185]

We should remember that about in the seventeenth century siberia belongs not to russia but to the siberian people. The czar of russia invaded siberia and annex it to russia. Tibet to is an independent soverign country annex by china.

[@terrymcmaster2787]

Who could forget

[@kennethkong5484]

Great research… Also remember Hawaii and Mexico lands stolen

[@kennethkong5484]

What about Guam, Midway Island, Spratley Islands,

[@johnm7267]

China took Tibet for security purposes the same excuse America uses, and because the Tibetans were antagonising the Chinese at the borders. Tibet was a medieval feudal society at that time and ruled by fanatical brutal monks. The Tibetans are far better off under Russia than they were under that old hypocrite the Dali Lama. Very much like HongKong there are people who are believing they were free under the old regime and just like the people of HK they didn’t have a vote, which they do now.

[@danvk]

Ukraine should not give up on Crimea. International law is legitimate and important.

[@kevingoodwin5177]

The Crimea is Russian... they fought the Mongols, Turks and eventually even the Germans for it. Most of the people in the Crimea want to be part of Russia.

[@kennethkong5484]

China’s 9 dash line vs USA’s Munroe Doctrine,

[@nanlars2323]

The real reason that the Russians need Cremia is because it is the only warm water port the rest of Russia seaports are frozen most of the year therefore it is crucial for them to have control over it!

[@jasonjean2901]

This different claims by different governments only make sense if you don't cover them in any detail. The People's Republic of China never claimed the 11-dash line. When the Communist Party of China took over mainland China, they simply adopted their internationally recognized boundaries, and in 1946 the previous government of China, with full U.S.-backing, had filed their 11-dash line with the U.N. and not a single country objected (likely due to the U.S.-backing). So, the PRC never needed to claim this territory, as it was already the international standard when they were established. And, they've always been willing to negotiate and compromise on their claims. This is the reason why, for example, that other claimant states in the South China Sea have been able to militarily occupy many more disputed islands and reefs than China has; despite how China, with its overwhelming militarily superiority, could take those islands and reefs back easily.

[@knoll9812]

Fact The line was never accepted by the UN

[@jasonjean2901]

@@knoll9812 Thanks for lying. It was filed in 1946 with the U.N. and not a single country objected. Why wouldn't they accept it?

[@TrendyStone]

Pretty sure Tibet didn’t want to be invaded.

[@jasonjean2901]

@@TrendyStone They didn't. When British India repeatedly invaded Tibet in 1888 and again in 1904, pillaging, raping, and slaughtering their way across Tibet. Then they only left when they contacted Tibet's government, the Chinese government, and received a bribe from them to leave each time. I know this isn't what you meant, but you are so ignorant, I thought that I'd educate you.

[@TrendyStone]

@@jasonjean2901 The CCP Ministry of Truth version of history.

[@MENDNZ]

Let's go MAGA..and Make America's Grifter Accountable !

[@r.r.r.918]

Realpolitik is back. By historical standards, the American empire, as a global hegemon, was oddly rather permissive and generous towards the countries under its security blanket. This will no longer the case. Europe and Asia will have to decide between its security guarantor or China, a trading partner.

[@RodgerGrogan]

That's right America's allies will cozi upto our enemies,old fat heads false bravado and bluster will backfire bigly (a word fat head knows)

[@Raggamuffin007]

How long will Trump’s attention span weigh on this issue is the main concern. I agree that America has been both permissive and generous, however, to do so was in their interests. The US doesn’t mind people doing business with China. They mind China cheating in business, and global powers not respecting post Cold War borders. Trump is a rare politician, to put it mildly, and even if JD Vance ends up becoming president, I doubt the Yale Law school graduate would approach the job the same.

[@jmhorange]

@@Raggamuffin007 How is China cheating in business. I thought the whole point of the US doing business with China was to get access to their cheap Communist labor. Now that the US has built its capitalism on shaky ground, lost lots of jobs and in debt to China, China's cheating. China's doing the same thing they've been doing for decades. No one told the US as it declared Communism dead with the end of the Soviet Union, to build its capitalism on Chinese communism. And many predicted access to cheap communist labor would hurt the US in the coming decades. But the US was enamored with cheap goods and services that Americans, who's jobs moved overseas, could afford... Could have kept jobs in America and when outsourcing only dealt with capitalist countries that had comparable labor standards as the US to keep capitalism strong and wages up to buy more expensive goods. But the US didn't, they told Americans, buying cheap communist goods, outsourcing jobs, and going into debt with China was a good capitalist bargain... and now the bill is coming due. Trump and JD Vance are just a reaction to decades of US failed policy with China, but it won't change the prevailing win of China's rise and America's decline.

[@tedthoman6580]

@@Raggamuffin007 Dump is a buffoon. Shady JD is bought and sold, and dangerous.

[@garyyoung3179]

Works both ways. Does the US want Europe one of its main global allies, to remain as an ally or become a geopolitical rival?

[@Eiretraveller]

Thank you lan for all your views 👍

[@walhdamaskus2408]

Now the Orange man makes the rules. 😂

[@chip2373]

You completely miss the point. Trump's #1 goal every morning is to be in the news. Hopefully front page of every newspaper and lead story of every broadcast and podcast. The fact that we are discussing his latest over the top statements means he has accomplished his goal.

[@bartstewart8644]

He's going to be in the news. We don't have to follow every bit of his idiocy, but talk of seizing the Panama Canal is newsworthy.

[@cpdukes1]

Fully aware... yes, and It really speaks poorly of the Americans.

[@afreezaphorogiancossack2194]

Yeah, this seems to have been encroaching on us all my life but I never conceived America playing out this way. I think as long as fascists seem to hold sway here nobody should trust the US. We have a mad king and he can't be trusted. He'll cause disaster for everybody before he'll admit to a single inconvenience to his kingly self.

[@johnlaudenslager706]

Interesting. If for national security the US needs to get Greenland, the Panama canal, whatever, then if Russia needs to get Ukraine, whatever, it's OK? I think the US and NATO and the UN need to state a principle: (at least) invasion to change borders/sovereignty will not be allowed? Other kinds of coercion might also be bad, but they would be harder to define, and would be less destructive than outright invasions?

[@ArmHope]

He could just build a canal in Nicaragua and get a 100 year lease

[@jacobjorgenson9285]

He won’t build shit! Why? Because it would take more than 4 years and thus he wouldn’t get the glory and that’s all he cares about

[@favilesp46]

@@ArmHope Sorry, but the chinese are already on it. Look it up. Nicaraguan canal through the San Juan river.

[@jeffv968]

We don't have any money 36 trillion and counting DOWN OUR COUNTRY IS FLAT BROKE

[@MAXIMUSLOK]

Probably the EU and EFTA gonna buy some US state's. I prefer to live in Athens or dusseldorf or Amsterdam rather than NYC.

[@magnusandersson5818]

We are getting closer to the reason why, as a Swede, I was against Sweden joining NATO and, above all, signing a DCA agreement. In many respects, it is no better or safer today than making a deal about your own security with Russia.

[@jjhpor]

NATO may be a better organization without the US. That would certainly force Europe to take their own defense more seriously and give up on expecting the US, now incredibly unstable, to come to their aid in an emergency.

[@darrenkoch1718]

I agree. Europe has had four years to prepare for Trump mark II. I hope they haven’t wasted those years. But it looks like they have.

[@asbisi]

@@jjhpor Article 5 has been invoked only once in NATO history. THAT WAS WHEN THE US WAS ATTACKED ON 9-11. ONCE. The US needed help. Now, think about that!

[@freddyfedora8544]

Bullies aren't bullies unless they are bullying somebody.

[@charleswhalen7332]

Is the Donbas & Crimea the Sudetenland in 1938 or Karelia in 1939? My bet: the Sudetenland in 1938. Next is Moldova and the rest of Ukraine in 2026. And with Trump having pulled the US out of NATO by late 2026 (which he has said he will do), or least having rescinded the US's commitment to honor NATO's Article 5 (which Trump has actually already done), then goes Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania in 2027-28.

[@kennethkong5484]

Same as USA seizing California and Texas from Mexico, what about Hawaii not so long ago

[@bmunson4920]

Crimea voted in 1991 to leave the Soviet Union and be part of Ukraine.

[@karengates5321]

If this is where “we are heading,” good people need to pay attention and speak up. How I wish we truly did have a “fully aware” electorate. That statement is complete nonsense.

[@andrewdobson813]

The idea that international affairs should be governed by right and wrong rather than strength and weakness is recent and is likely to be short-lived. Whether or not China's claim to vast territorial waters is absurd is less important than Beijing's ability to control those waters militarily.

[@hitthedeck4115]

Laws can only function if there's a guarantor which has the strength to impose it, i.e. a world government. But such thing is counter to countries' sovereignty which is the basis of international relations.

[@kennethkong5484]

Lest you forgot …. China’s 100 years of humiliation of the opium wars and USA and 8 European countries invading China and looting the Imperial Palace. Then , since WW 11, USA parading the South China Seas

[@AlvaroEstrella-ei3ff]

🇺🇸.. LET'S BE INDIANGIVERS..👌🏼..MAGA.💪🏼...😂

[@ilonadankov5175]

We people thought that Covid was bad now we have Trump back there is not ending to anxiety.

[@NewOrleansSeptember]

For someone who never met a war they didn't like to oppose military intervention shows what a clown this guy really is.

[@markgood-kr3uk]

Alaska use to belong to Russia, Florida use to belong to Spain, Isreal use to belong to Italy, and wast of the Mississippi rover belonged to france.

[@jorgeponce5512]

Mike Tyson is taking Ian Bremer's apartment with all those books. Stronger.

[@kennethkong5484]

Santa gives A little boy, a real gun

[@whatsup7253]

No issue with the Chinese influence in Panama. He wants to purchase Greenland the word is purchase.

[@user-bt8vn3dj6o]

Mr. Trump is a fool.

[@ianward8856]

Basically, Trump's actions demonstrate that he should never have been reelected. His bombast is totally obnoxious.

[@felipearbustopotd]

There is nothing original about the 45th. He is a carbon copy of his best mate, Pootin.

[@brianlowe3529]

So China has a right to take Taiwan .

[@AB_123_AB]

Of course it does. The civil war hasn't ended.

[@thorin1045]

would be closer: so germany has a right to take crimea. the usa has very little right to the panama, while the chinese demand on a chinese island is not really questionable, just as the island also have a casual demand on the mainland china. both consider themselves part of china and the proper china. panama never considered itself part of the usa.

[@maxtew6521]

Man forgot who he was. The barbarians have always been at the gates. Cultural chauvinism is not a sin. I represent and support Western traditions that are valuable and that have shaped the world. I have the right to prefer one thing over another. Everyone does. And about sovereignty, there is no such thing as "sovereign territory" only land that can be populated and defended. Any people who cannot defend themselves invite the loss of what they consider "home." All of history shows this to be the cold, harsh reality of the world. It's about winning, always has been. Let's go!!!

[@thomasaseymour1165]

Oh well there it is Russia..that’s the reason trump wants what he wants..to look like Putin! Jeeezzzus

[@VonKirda]

He demonstrated abundantly that he does not care either way, internal or international. And very successfully so. So what do you expect. He will go from transactional to blackmail.

[@JOSEPRODRIGUEZPERISE]

Yes, USA showed his huge power... in Vietnam.

[@Boox.Expert]

Some of the voters don’t even understand January 6th.

[@trails3597]

It's a form of resistance.

[@tedthoman6580]

@@trails3597 More a form of stupidity and brainwashing.

[@antbrown9066]

“Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save. When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing.”

[@yaoypl]

The strong do what they can, and the weak suffer what they must. Are we going back to the Wild West?

[@earth7451]

Trump should read Article 2(4) from the United Nations Charter to stop making uneducated threats.

[@Potatopotatopotatoespotatotato]

Crimea has rarely in history been under Russian/Soviet/Rus control. You might want to check your facts.

[@Naps56]

Like the Brexit referendum, Have US or EU academicians and/or bureaucracy ever polled S.E. Ukraine's natives about their preference for their nationality ?

[@StanSolomon-r1t]

How about an overthrow of a government, as we did many times, including recently Ukraine in 2014? Is that a violation of international law?

[@ristomattikolsi5711]

Super powers play with their own rules. Rest of us just watch and scare.

[@ybreton6593]

The history of the Panama Canal is very eventful. The concept of a canal in Panama dates back to the beginning of the 16th century. One of the first iconographic representations of the canal is indicated on the map of the Councils of the French Michel Le Nobletz around 1630. The first attempt at construction did not begin until 1880, under the French impetus of Ferdinand de Lesseps, thanks to a giant fundraising at the Paris Stock Exchange. 60% of the digging was done by the French The number of workers who died of disease during construction has been estimated at several thousand "more than 5,600 for the French period alone 1881-1904" which led the French to stop digging the work was completed by the United States under the direction of George Washington Goethals, and the canal opened on August 15, 1914. The construction of the 80 kilometer canal was fraught with problems, from diseases such as malaria and yellow fever, to landslides the number of casualties after the French abandonment is unknown

[@franklim9672]

Trump : I don't understand Law. I am the Law. 😂

[@alexng5056]

for national security reason, can the USA take all countries around the world into one country so we all become US citizen?

[@velisvideos6208]

Swedish Chancellor Axel Oxenstierna (1583 - 1654) in a letter to his son; "Do you not know my son, with how little wisdom the world is governed?" Hasn't changed much in 400 years, has it?