Meloni "Trump's claim to annex Greenland is a cautionary statement"

Italian Prime Minister Jorja Meloni said she understood U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's words that he could use military force to annex Greenland and Panama's canals as a warning statement.

Meloni, who met with Trump over the weekend, explained at his annual news conference yesterday that the remarks were intended to force China and others to pull out of strategically important areas.

He also added that he thought it would be okay to rule out the possibility of the U.S. mobilizing military forces to annex these regions.

Meloni cited China's growing activity in the commercially important Panama Canal and resource-rich Greenland as the background for Trump's warning remarks.

Meloni said he would be happy to attend Trump's inauguration on the 20th if possible.