Donald Trump says the U.S. needs control of Greenland and the Panama Canal "for national security." Here's why both places are so important.

The president-elect said he covets Greenland for its size. He could be misinterpreting it based on well-known mapping distortion.

Or he could even weave Greenland into a deal like the United States has with Micronesia and the Marshall Islands that gives the U.S. military unfettered access in exchange for defense and financial assistance.