In Greenland, the plan is Biden’s. And Europe sleeps as usual, lost in ritual declarations about the inviolability of borders under the now blind leadership of France and Germany. No one seems to want to understand that Trump’s shock phrases are more an invitation to the allies to open their eyes. In fact, the activism of China and Russia in such a resource-rich and increasingly crucial region as the Arctic should have worried the EU the most. Which, as usual, has no idea how to defend the area because it has no common army. And so it does not even consider how to exploit the raw materials that are essential for the continent

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reassures everyone after Donald Trump's words about annexing Greenland to the United States: "It's not going to happen, so there's no reason to waste time on it." In particular, he addresses European countries that have reacted with alarm: from France, which spoke of "a form of imperialism," to Germany, where Chancellor Olaf Scholz reiterated that "the principle of the inviolability of borders applies to every country," while the Commission seemed more cautious. It's unclear how much Trump wanted to provoke, or how much of a wild variable he is. What is certain, however, is that China is behind the words "Greenland" and "Panama." And the insistence on Canada - with the image of the U.S. map including the Canadian "state" - also points in this direction: in the global confrontation with Beijing, Trump will need to amass more strength and more solid allies, which Justin Trudeau was not. But this concern is not unique to Trump. This is confirmed by the Arctic strategy drafted in June 2024 by the still Democratic-led Department of Defense. A document to preserve the Arctic as a stable region where the U.S. homeland remains secure and vital national interests are protected." Climate change and melting ice are making Arctic lands increasingly navigable and drillable, so "activities in the Arctic will be calibrated to reflect a watch-and-respond approach that does not preclude the deterrent value of the Department of Defense's ability to project joint power globally at a time and place of our choosing. Military intervention in an area that includes Alaska, Canada, and Greenland is already being planned to focus on the global challenge posed by the People's Republic of China. According to the Economist, Greenland has a total of 50 critical minerals, most of which are currently supplied by China. Mining is in its infancy, but there are 170 drillable sites, up from 12 a decade ago. US companies such as KoBold Metals, backed by Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos, are already established. But China has its sights set on the Arctic, as outlined in its own 2018 strategy document, "China's Arctic Policy," which speaks of a "Polar Silk Road" through the development of Arctic shipping routes. While China has no Arctic outlets, it is an observer member of the Arctic Council and recognizes, as it writes in the 2018 document, that the Arctic is gaining global significance as economic globalization and regional integration continue to develop and deepen. The US Department of Defense warns: Although not an Arctic nation, China is seeking to take advantage of the changing dynamics in the Arctic to gain greater influence and access, exploit Arctic resources, and play a greater role in regional governance. The U.S. is concerned about China's icebreakers - Xue Long, Xue Long 2, and Zhong Shan Da Xue Ji Di - which allow the PRC to conduct dual civilian and military research in the Arctic. And its "Polar Silk Road" has been used to gain ground in the Arctic. Then there is the Russian threat, whose capabilities in the Arctic have the potential to endanger the United States and its allies and partners. Hence a strategy whose options include "deploying ground forces to the Arctic to demonstrate deterrence capabilities from 'Alaska to Greenland. The same goes for Panama.

Chinese influence began in 1999 with the delivery of the Panama Canal and the granting of concessions to the Chinese company Hutchison-Whampoa to operate the canal's ports. China thus became the main trading partner. Then, in 2017, the Panamanian government officially recognized the People's Republic of China. The "Integrated Strategy" document for Panama, published by the U.S. Department of Defense in 2022, refers extensively to these issues. The text states that "Panama's 2024 presidential election is imminent. A new administration may be more susceptible to economic and political pressure from the People's Republic of China, which could adversely affect the status of the United States as Panama's preferred partner. What the United States, not just Trump, will do everything to avoid.