A congressman wanted clarification from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on whether the U.S. has plans to conquer Greenland and Panama, to which Hegseth responded, “I think the American people would

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth would not deny that the Pentagon has plans for a possible military invasion of Greenland and Panama when pressed by lawmakers during a congressional hearing on Thursday. Newsweek reached out to the Department of Defense and the foreign affairs ministries for both Greenland and Panama via email for comments.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday avoided answering lawmakers whether the Pentagon has plans to take Greenland and Panama by force, saying the Defense Department develops plans for “any particular contingency.