Pentagon's Greenland and Panama Contingency Plans Raise Concerns

During a contentious congressional hearing, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth appeared to acknowledge that the Pentagon had developed plans to potentially take control of Greenland and Panama by force. This admission came during a series of heated exchanges with members of the House Armed Services Committee.

Democratic Representative Adam Smith questioned Hegseth about the existence of plans to use force in Greenland and Panama. Hegseth responded by stating the Defense Department's responsibility to have plans for any contingency. When pressed further, he confirmed that the Pentagon had plans for various scenarios, including those involving Greenland and Panama.

The Secretary's responses prompted a Republican lawmaker to intervene. Representative Mike Turner attempted to clarify Hegseth's statements, seeking to ensure he wasn't confirming the existence of plans to invade Greenland. Hegseth maintained that the Pentagon had plans for numerous contingencies, while also expressing a desire to work with Greenland to ensure its security.

President Trump has previously expressed interest in acquiring Greenland, a strategic and resource-rich island nation. His remarks have been met with resistance from Greenland's leaders.

The hearing also addressed other issues, including Hegseth's use of Signal chats to discuss military operations in Yemen. Lawmakers questioned him about the potential sharing of classified information and whether he would be held accountable if any classified information was shared. Hegseth avoided directly answering whether he would be accountable.