Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is appearing to acknowledge that the Pentagon has developed plans to take over Greenland and Panama by force if necessary.

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.

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