US President-elect Donald Trump has said he would not rule out the use of military force to seize control of the Panama Canal and Greenland, as he claimed both to be vital to US national security.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday night, less than two weeks before he takes office on January 20, Mr Trump left open the use of the US military to secure both territories.

“I’m not going to commit to that,” Mr Trump said when asked if he would rule out the use of the military.