Trump suggests Venezuela become the 51st state following their victory in the World Baseball Classic

"Minutes after the Venezuelan team's 3-2 win, the president posted a message on his Truth Social platform that quickly sparked controversy: Statehood!!! The comment didn't come out of nowhere. A day earlier, following Venezuela's victory over Italy in the semifinals, Trump had already hinted at the possibility of making the South American country the 51st state of the United States."

"The repetition of the message after the final was interpreted by some as a joke and by others as a disturbing statement, in line with other annexation proposals the president has put forward during his second term, including comments about Canada and Greenland, which have sparked controversy and strained relations with that country and that territory, respectively."

"In the case of Canada, statements in which he even referred to the prime minister as a future governor sparked political and diplomatic criticism, cooling the tone of a historically close relationship. Meanwhile, his repeated references to Greenland as a strategic asset for national security reignited tensions with Denmark, which has categorically rejected any possibility of negotiations regarding the territory."

Following Venezuela's World Baseball Classic victory over the United States, President Trump posted messages on Truth Social suggesting Venezuela become the 51st state. This comment followed similar remarks after Venezuela's semifinal win against Italy. Trump's annexation proposals extend beyond Venezuela to include Canada and Greenland, generating significant international controversy. His Canada comments, referencing the prime minister as a future governor, damaged diplomatic relations with a historically close ally. Repeated statements about Greenland as a strategic national security asset have intensified tensions with Denmark, which firmly rejected any negotiation possibilities regarding the territory.

Read at english.elpais.com