By Prof. Dr. Ahmet Uysal
US President Donald Trump continues to tamper with the rules of the global order created by the United States itself. He has entered into a severe economic conflict with China without backing down. Similarly, the United States, which had encouraged the creation of the European Union to confront the Soviet Union, now views it as a competitor. On the one hand, Trump displays an isolationist view that we should not interfere in the world, and on the other, he expresses the view that “if we protect some countries, we should own them.” This is reminiscent of the old colonial power politics of the 20th century. The number of issues that Trump claims to protect and own is also high: Canada, Greenland, the Panama Canal, the Suez Canal, Gaza, and Ukraine.
In early 2025, Donald Trump made provocative statements hinting at the possibility of annexing Canada by the United States. Trump jokingly claimed that the border between the two countries was artificial and that Canada would be “better off” economically and militarily if it became the 51st U.S. state. He said, “Canada is already practically a part of us. Why not make it official?” These statements sparked strong reactions from Canadian political parties, which strongly rejected them. These parties accused Trump of experiencing colonial nostalgia and ignoring the views of the Canadian people. Trump’s statements contributed to a surge in nationalist rhetoric during the Canadian elections, helping the Liberal Party win again.
the Danish island of Greenland and annex it to the United States. Although this offer may seem surprising, the United States has previously purchased territories from other countries, such as Louisiana from France, Florida from Spain, and Alaska from Russia. The United States has strategic interests in Greenland, particularly due to its location in the Arctic, which is important for trade and defense (it hosts the US Thule Air Force Base). The island is rich in uranium, oil, gas, gold, and rare earth elements. Denmark has described this proposal as “ridiculous” and rejected it, and Trump’s planned state visit to Denmark was even canceled. Nevertheless, Greenland retains its importance in the context of global competition and remains on Trump’s agenda.
As Trump seeks to enhance his country’s influence in global trade and stem the rise of China, he has begun claiming rights to the Panama and Suez Canals. He has claimed that the Panama Canal was originally built by the United States, and that its 1999 handover to Panama was a mistake that should be rectified by “taking it back.” He has also criticized the current tolls imposed on American ships, believing they give China an unfair advantage. The Panamanian government has rejected these claims, emphasizing its full sovereignty over the canal and asserting that it is managed independently and fairly. It added, “We are the ones protecting both canals, so the notion of free use is not true.”
Although the United States did not contribute to the construction or protection of the Suez Canal, Trump stated that American military and commercial vessels should transit the Suez Canal, a vital global waterway, free of charge. He asked Secretary of State Marco Rubio to initiate diplomatic efforts on the matter. The Egyptian government rejected this request, asserting that all ships are charged transit fees equally, within the framework of international agreements. Trump’s statements evoked the colonial period that contributed to the occupation of Egypt and the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. After the British occupation of Egypt, it was decided to dismantle the Ottoman Empire, and Britain remained in control of the Suez Canal until 1956.
In Gaza, despite Trump’s lack of any legal or historical right to it, he has declared his intention to “own” Gaza after emptying its population. Contrary to his other claims, in this case, he does not want to protect Gaza; rather, he supports Israel’s genocide of its population in order to seize it without resistance. In Ukraine, Trump has adopted a similar logic, claiming that the United States has spent a lot of money protecting Ukraine, so half of its wealth should go to America. However, he has offered no security guarantees to Ukraine and has instead pressured the transfer of Crimea, a Ukrainian territory, to Russia as if it were his own, with negotiations still ongoing. Thus, Trump reveals a colonial mentality cloaked in self-interest. He treats countries and peoples as commodities up for grabs, disregarding sovereignty, history, or the right of peoples to self-determination. He seeks to control strategic locations around the world as if they were personal property, seeking to own or impose his guardianship over them, whether or not they are his right.
