John Cassidy
Vladimir Lenin famously wrote that imperialism is the “highest stage of capitalism,” by which he meant that a global economy based on the profit motive would inevitably end up with rich capitalist countries subjugating less developed territories and exploiting their resources. As Donald Trump prepares to return to the White House, he seems determined to put fresh life into this subversive description. In an online post last month, Trump said it was an “absolute necessity” for the United States to take ownership of Greenland, the vast and resource-rich island in the Arctic. A couple of weeks later, at a press conference, he refused to rule out using military force to seize Greenland in addition to taking control of the Panama Canal, a key trade route, which the late Jimmy Carter agreed to transfer to its home country in 1977.
As often with Trump, the question arises of how serious he really is. The Democratic senator Elizabeth Warren suggested that his comments were designed to shift the spotlight away from his controversial cabinet selections and their upcoming confirmation hearings. Other observers speculated Trump was directing attention to smaller and weaker countries because as President he will likely encounter difficulty in facing down stronger opponents, particularly China. But one thing is certain: when Trump posted online a map of the U.S. occupying the entirety of the North American continent north of the Rio Grande, he knew that many of his most ardent supporters would cheer.
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