Trump also mentioned that in August he instructed the Pentagon to develop plans for possible operations against drug cartels that are recognized as terrorist organizations. The President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, has repeatedly emphasized that she will not allow the U.S. to conduct military operations on her country's territory.
Nevertheless, Trump does not rule out the possibility of continuing his hardline stance towards other countries, such as Greenland and Canada.
According to the president, his actions are not constrained by international law, but are governed by his "own morality." He also mentioned that there may be a choice between controlling Greenland and maintaining NATO. "My morality and my own judgments are what stop me. I don't need international law, and I don't intend to harm people," Trump stated in an interview with The New York Times published on January 8.
When asked whether his administration should adhere to international norms, Trump answered affirmatively but added that he would decide when those norms apply to the U.S. "It depends on your understanding of international law," he noted.
Although he dodged a direct answer to the question of what is more important to him—control over Greenland or preserving NATO—Trump acknowledged that such a choice might exist. "I am confident that we will always find common ground with Europe, but I want them to start investing more in NATO," he added.
Trump dismissed the Venezuela scenario for Taiwan
In a conversation with journalists, Trump also rejected the notion that a possible U.S. military operation in Caracas to overthrow Nicolás Maduro could set a precedent for China in its actions against Taiwan. "It depends on the Chairman of the People's Republic of China, Xi Jinping. I made it clear to him that I would be very unhappy if he took such measures. And I hope he won't," he emphasized.
