Grappling With Donald Trump's New Imperialism

As the world awaits with trepidation for Donald Trump's second presidency, allies and foes alike are aghast at his threat to redraw the map of the Western Hemisphere.

- GURBIR SINGH

Trump's outrageous moves to 'buy out' Greenland, or to take over the Panama Canal is not just about making 'Making America Great Again'; it is about reviving neo-colonialism. We thought imperialism was dead and gone. With Trump, it is back with a vengeance!

It started with Greenland. Last month, Trump posted on his Truth Social platform that "ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity" for "economic security". Perhaps, it has got more to do with the Arctic island's rich mineral wealth and its strategic importance to controlling the northern sea lanes. Denmark has been in control since the 14th century; and the self-governing island was fully integrated with Denmark in 1953. The US briefly occupied the island after World War II but abandoned its enclaves soon after. Trump restarted an 'ownership' bid in 2018 in his first presidency; and to demonstrate his current seriousness, sent off his son Donald Trump Jr to land his personal Boeing on Greenland's capital, Nuuk.

Denmark's premier Mette Frederiksen has been cautious. "Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders...and it's the Greenlanders themselves who have to define their future," she said. Greenland's 57,000 residents have been more strident, stating their island, with its unique culture and history, was not for sale.