Inside Trump and Pentagon’s plan to take Greenland by force – ‘we’ll do it if necessary’ | World | News
In a heated exchange with a Democrat Representative, US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth revealed there are contingency plans to take Greenland and Panama “by force if necessary”. During a congressional hearing on Thursday, Democrat Representative Adam Smith asked Hegseth whether it is the policy of the department of defence to be prepared to forcibly take Greenland and Panama.
Hegseth responded: “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, who is also a lawyer, then asked Hegseth to clarify whether he was confirming that plans exist to invade Greenland.
“I just want to help you out because people try to twist your words,” he said.
“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?”
The defence secretary responded: “All my testimony is that the Pentagon has plans for any number of contingencies.”
It is not uncommon for the Pentagon to prepare contingency plans for potential conflicts. However, the revelation is notable given Donald Trump‘s repeated statements expressing interest in making Greenland part of US territory – and his refusal to rule out the use of military force to achieve that goal. During his first term as president, Trump attempted to pressure Denmark into selling Greenland, which is geographically part of North America, but his proposal was firmly rejected.
“Greenland is not for sale,” Jacob Isbosethsen, Greenland’s representative to the US, said Thursday at a forum in Washington sponsored by the Arctic Institute.
Local residents couldn’t agree stronger. A poll from January carried out by Verian showed that only 6% of Greenlanders said they were in favour of the island becoming part of America, with 85% opposing the proposal. 9% remain undecided.
The poll also showed that 45% viewed Trump’s interest in their island as a threat.
