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ROME: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Thursday dismissed speculation the United States might use force to take Greenland or the Panama Canal, saying Donald Trump‘s comments on the issue were aimed at China.
The far-right leader, who visited the US president-elect at his Florida home last weekend, also said she did not expect him to “abandon” Ukraine.
“I feel like I can rule out that the United States in the coming years will try to forcefully annex territories that interest them,” Meloni told reporters at her annual press conference.
She said Trump’s remarks were “more of a message to… other big global players”.
Meloni noted the Panama Canal was crucial for world trade while Greenland was rich in strategic raw materials.
“They are both territories in which we have witnessed a growing Chinese prominence in recent years,” she said.
Trump on Tuesday refused to rule out military intervention over the Panama Canal and Greenland, both of which he has said he wants the United States to control.
“We need Greenland for national security purposes,” he declared.
Greenland is an mineral- and oil-rich Arctic island, an autonomous territory of European Union member Denmark that itself has eyes on independence.
Meloni refused to confirm whether she would attend Trump’s inauguration on January 20, saying she would like to but was still considering the invitation.
The prime minister — a firm supporter of Ukraine in its war with Russia — also said she did not expect Trump to abandon Kyiv.
“Frankly I don’t foresee a disengagement,” she said, adding that Trump “said precisely because we want peace, we will not abandon Ukraine”.
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