USA Pentagon’s Greenland Contingency Sparks Political Firestorm

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Pentagon’s Greenland Contingency Sparks Political Firestorm

 

The Pentagon has found itself at the center of a growing controversy after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth appeared to confirm the existence of military contingency plans involving Greenland and Panama. The revelation came during a heated congressional exchange that has reignited concerns over former President Donald Trump's longstanding interest in acquiring the Arctic territory.

 

 

During a tense moment at a congressional hearing, Democratic Representative Adam Smith questioned Hegseth directly: “Is it the policy of the Department of Defense that we need to be prepared to take Greenland and Panama by force if necessary?” He followed the question with a pointed observation: “I don’t think the American people voted for President Trump because they were hoping we would invade Greenland.”

 

 

Hegseth, however, defended the Pentagon’s broad planning mandates. “Our job at the Defense Department is to have plans for any particular contingency,” he said. “Any contingency, we’ve got. We’ve got a building full of planners, and we’re prepared to give recommendations whenever needed.”

 

The situation became even more politically charged when Representative Mike Turner, a Republican from Ohio, intervened to try and temper the impact of Hegseth’s remarks. “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?” Turner asked, seeking a direct denial.

 

Hegseth declined to provide further clarity, instead repeating his earlier position: “All my testimony is is that the Pentagon has plans for any number of contingencies.” He added that he looked forward to helping protect Greenland from “potential threats.”

 

While it's common for the Pentagon to develop hypothetical scenarios in the event of global crises, the timing and context of the Greenland discussion are especially sensitive. During his first term, Donald Trump made no secret of his desire to make Greenland a U.S. territory. He went as far as proposing that Denmark sell the autonomous island to the United States, a suggestion that was quickly and firmly rejected by the Danish government.

 

More recently, Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr., visited Greenland, posing for photos with locals sporting MAGA hats. Following the visit, the former president posted on 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!”

 

Vice President JD Vance also weighed in during a March visit to Pituffik Space Base in Greenland, telling U.S. soldiers: “[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.”

 

In response to the Pentagon testimony and political commentary, Jacob Isbosethsen, Greenland’s representative to the U.S., offered a brief but firm statement: “Greenland is not for sale.”

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Telegraph  2025-06-14

 

 

[Thingamabob]

If the US government has expressed an interest, however undetermined, in a possible course of action the Defence Department is bound to make an appropriate contingency plan.

[FlorC]

See , you can be MAGA and like Trump , but taking Greenland is wrong.

[Purdey]

Not sure when was the last time the USA won a war on its own but going to against Denmark and its allies, the EU, is a big risk. TACO I suppose.

[gargamon]

If you can read a map, Greenland should clearly merge with Canada. Most Americans(the MAGA morons anyway) can't and don't realize this.

[WDSmart]

Yankee Go Home! 😡

[FlorC]

On 6/14/2025 at 4:27 PM, gargamon said:

If you can read a map, Greenland should clearly merge with Canada. Most Americans(the MAGA morons anyway) can't and don't realize this.

 

On 6/15/2025 at 7:48 AM, WDSmart said:

Yankee Go Home! 😡

Yankee and Canuck go home then.