Presidential nominees who will require Senate confirmation for diplomatic positions that have historically flown under the radar may soon find themselves thrust into the spotlight. With President-elect Donald Trump floating aggressive desires to acquire foreign territories like the Panama Canal,

Trump again having designs on Greenland comes after the president-elect suggested over the weekend that the U.S. could retake control of the Panama Canal if something isn't done to ease rising shipping costs required for using the waterway linking the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

Denmark is increasing defense spending in Greenland, said a Danish official Tuesday who called the announcement's timing with President-elect Trump's suggestion that the U.S. should own the territory an "irony of fate.