Pentagon has plan to take Greenland ‘by force if necessary'
The defence secretary let slip the existence of the contingency plans during a heated exchange with Democrat Representative Adam Smith.
During a congressional hearing on Thursday, Mr Smith asked Mr Hegseth if it is 'the policy of the department of defence that we need to be prepared to take Greenland and Panama by force if necessary'.
'I don't think the American people voted for President Trump because they were hoping we would invade Greenland,' the Democrat added.
In response Mr Hegseth said: 'Our job at the defence department is to have plans for any particular contingency.
'Any contingency, we've got. We've got a building full of planners, and we're prepared to give recommendations whenever needed.'
Representative Mike Turner, an Ohio Republican, then pressed Mr Hegseth to make it clear if he was confirming the existence of plans to invade Greenland telling him that he was a lawyer and 'I just want to help you out because people try to twist your words.'
'You are not confirming in your testimony today that at the Pentagon, there are plans for invading or taking by force Greenland, correct? That is not your testimony today?' Mr Turner asked.
The defence secretary did not clarify his statement further, responding: 'All my testimony is is that the Pentagon has plans for any number of contingencies.'
He also said that he looks forward to helping protect Greenland from 'potential threats'.
Drawing up contingency plans for potential conflicts is not unusual at the Pentagon, although the revelation comes after repeated assertions by Donald Trump that he would like to make Greenland part of US territory, and has not ruled out using military force to make that happen.
In fact, Mr Trump tried to bounce Denmark into selling Greenland, which is geographically in North America, during his first presidency – but was rebuffed.
Mr Trump's son, Donald Trump Jr visited the territory earlier this year, and was pictured with Maga hat-wearing locals.
At the time, the US president posted to Truth Social: 'I am hearing that the people of Greenland are 'MAGA'.
'Greenland is an incredible place, and the people will benefit tremendously if, and when, it becomes part of our nation. We will protect it, and cherish it, from a very vicious outside world. MAKE GREENLAND GREAT AGAIN!'
When JD Vance, the vice-president, visited in March he told US soldiers at Pituffik Space Base: '[America] can make [Greenland] much more secure. We can do a lot more protection, and I think they'll fare a lot better economically as well.
'This has to happen, and the reason it has to happen, I hate to say it, is because our friends in Denmark have not done their job in keeping this area safe.'
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