Since Donald Trump announced that he wanted to take back the Panama Canal and hypothesized an annexation of the Greenlandthe spotlight from all over the world is on the strip of water that connects theAtlantic Ocean with the Pacific and on the immense island autonomous territory of Denmark.
Long 81.1kmThe Panama Canal it was built by Americans between 1907 and the 1914 after then-President Theodore Roosevelt wanted to resume a project conceived in800 for the creation of a passage between the two oceans. At the time the territory was controlled by Colombiabut a revolt supported by the United States led to the formation of Republic of Panama In the 1903. The same year he USA and the newly formed state signed a treaty that gave the United States control over a strip of land approximately 16 kilometers to build the canal in exchange for financial reimbursement.
The work was completed in 1914 and it is estimated that approx 5,600 people died during the work. The practicality of the canal was demonstrated during the Second World Warwhen it was used as a key passageway for the war effort of the Allies between the two oceans. But the relationship between USA And Panama began to crumble due to disagreements over the control and treatment of Panamanian workers until, the January 9, 1964the two countries severed diplomatic relations.
It was Jimmy Carter In the 1977 to reach an agreement that in 1999 gave full control back to Panama. Why Trump do you want to take back the management of that strip of water? Meanwhile, for economic reasons: over the years, in fact, the Panamanian authorities have imposed increasingly higher tariffs and restrictions on trade. Secondly, in an anti-Chinasecond user of the channel after him USAwhose role in the region has become more important since 2017when Panama he cut ties with Taiwan in favor of the development of diplomatic relations with Beijing.
Safety And trade they are also behind the interest of tycoon for the Greenlandthe largest island in the world. Became a Danish colony in 1721during the Second World War there Denmark lost the economic and political dominion of the island, which thus became closer to the United States et al Canada. After the conflict, control returned to Denmarkand in 1953 the colonial status was transformed into that of an overseas county. There Greenland he then had in 1979 the right toself-government and in 1985 abandoned the European Economic Community via referendum.
It’s no coincidence that Trump sent his emissaries right now: in his speech at the beginning of the year the prime minister Mute Egede suggested that a referendum could be held shortly for theindependence. The date could coincide with that of the elections for the local parliament, therefore by April 6.