President-elect Donald Trump has stirred controversy with his recent remarks suggesting the extension of U.S. influence into Canada, Greenland (a Danish territory), and the Panama Canal, asserting that international borders could be redrawn—if necessary, by force. These comments have provoked concern in Europe and beyond, particularly as they counter the principles European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy are defending against Russian aggression.

While Trump’s statements have alarmed some, many European leaders have taken a cautious approach, downplaying the rhetoric. Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni dismissed the notion of U.S. military action, stating, “I think we can exclude that the United States in the coming years will try to use force to annex territory that interests it.”

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz carefully pushed back, reaffirming the principle that “borders must not be moved by force” without directly naming Trump.

French Foreign Minister Jean Noël Barrot offered a more pointed response, describing Trump’s comments as a “wake-up call” and warning of a return to “the law of the strongest.”

Trump’s remarks have sparked debate over the stability of international borders and the global order. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, addressing Trump’s incoming administration, reiterated the importance of upholding the post-World War II principle that powerful nations cannot simply annex others.

“No matter what’s going on in the world, everyone wants to feel sure that their country will not just be erased off the map,” Zelenskyy said, referencing Ukraine’s ongoing struggle against Russian aggression since 2022.

In Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark with 56,000 residents who are EU citizens, Prime Minister Múte Bourup Egede responded firmly: “Our people do not want to be Americans.” However, he expressed openness to expanded cooperation with the U.S., highlighting Greenland’s strategic importance in the Arctic.

While European leaders have tempered their responses, analysts caution that Trump’s rhetoric—whether intended seriously or not—could strain U.S.-European relations as he prepares for his second presidency. Words alone, they argue, may undermine trust and cooperation with key allies.

As the world watches, Trump’s comments highlight the delicate balance of maintaining international norms and alliances in a time of geopolitical uncertainty.