Trump’s Threats to Allied Nations Are Inexcusable

Published in Sankei Shimbun
(Japan) on 11 January 2025
by (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Dorothy Phoenix. Edited by Patricia Simoni.
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has expressed his ambition to take control of Greenland, a self-governing territory of Denmark in the Arctic Circle, and the Panama Canal in Central America. He has indicated that he has not ruled out the idea of using military action to accomplish his goals.

Isn't this the same thing as approving a change in status quo by force, contrary to the U.N. Charter, which prohibits threatening the territory of other countries with military force? We must not overlook the fact that Trump's approach is not so different from that of Russia, which invaded Ukraine, and China, which is eyeing the annexation of Taiwan.

Trump's words and conduct are shaking NATO's foundations. The U.S. and Denmark are allies and thus have a relationship of defending each other with the right of collective self-defense. It is absurd for one nation to threaten an ally with military force. Germany, France and other countries are also right to oppose the idea.

Asked in a press conference whether he would promise not to use military and economic coercion to purchase Greenland, Trump responded that he “can't assure you [the reporter] on either of those two,” but that “we need them for economic security.”

Greenland's strategic importance is growing. It is expected to serve as a base for mining rare minerals and for Arctic shipping routes, and the fact is that China is stretching out its tentacles.

However, the defensive pact between the U.S. and Denmark since the Cold War era recognizes the U.S. military's establishment of bases and freedom of movement in Greenland. Based on this arrangement, the U.S. military has established and used bases to track and monitor ballistic missiles and the space activity of Russia and other countries. Therefore, it is unnecessary for the U.S. to go out of its way to establish control or possession of Greenland.

In 1999, the U.S. reverted control of the Panama Canal, which was completed with U.S. support, back to Panama. Trump made an accusation that the canal is “being operated by China.” Companies with ties to Hong Kong do operate some ports in the canal. Panama denies Chinese influence, but China has been behaving in a hegemonic way toward Central and South America.

Trump's series of statements are also probably aimed at keeping China and Russia in check. But taking aim at allies and like-minded nations is illogical.

Trump has threatened to use "economic force.” Even if his plan is to shake up Canada and Mexico, which he views as causing problems with trade deficits and illegal immigration, humiliating them only deepens rifts between allied and friendly nations, while pleasing despotic nations. It is concerning that Trump does not seem to have any close aides around him who will offer him candid advice.


<主張>トランプ氏 同盟国「恫喝」が目に余る

トランプ次期米大統領が、北極圏のデンマーク自治領グリーンランドや中米のパナマ運河を管理下に置くことに意欲を示し、これを果たすための軍事的措置を排除しない考えを示している。

武力による威嚇で他国領土を脅かすことを禁じた国連憲章に反し、力による現状変更を容認するに等しくないか。ウクライナを侵略するロシアや台湾併吞(へいどん)を狙う中国の発想と大差なく、見過ごすことはできない。

トランプ氏の言動は、北大西洋条約機構(NATO)の根幹も揺るがす。米国とデンマークはともに加盟国で、集団的自衛権で守り合う関係だ。同盟国を軍事的に恫喝(どうかつ)することはあり得ない。独仏などの加盟国の反発も当然である。

トランプ氏は会見で、グリーンランド購入などのために軍事的、経済的な強制措置を使わないと約束するかを問われ、「保証できない」「安全保障のために必要だ」と答えた。

グリーンランドは戦略的重要性が増している。希少鉱物採掘や北極圏航路の拠点としても期待され、中国が触手を伸ばしているのは事実だ。

だが、冷戦期以来の米国とデンマークの防衛協定は、米軍にグリーンランドでの基地設置や自由な移動を認めている。これに基づき、米軍はロシアなどの弾道ミサイルや宇宙活動を追跡・監視する基地を設け、運用中だ。わざわざ領有したり管理下に置いたりする必要はない。

米国の支援で完成したパナマ運河は米国が1999年に管理権をパナマに返還した。トランプ氏は「中国が運営している」と非難した。香港系企業が運河の拠点港を運営している。パナマ側は中国の影響力を否定するが、中国は中南米でも覇権主義的に振る舞っている。

トランプ氏の一連の発言は中露を牽制(けんせい)する狙いもあろう。だが、同盟・同志国に矛先を向けたのは筋違いだ。

トランプ氏はカナダの米国編入へ「経済的強制力」を使うと脅し、メキシコ湾を「アメリカ湾」に改称する考えまで示した。貿易赤字や不法移民問題を抱える両国を揺さぶるつもりでも、屈辱を与えては、同盟国、友好国との亀裂を深め、専制国家を喜ばせる。トランプ氏の周りに苦言を呈する側近が見当たらないことは心配である。
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