Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth didn’t rule out using military force to take Greenland and Panama, implying to lawmakers on Thursday that the Defense Department has plans prepared if such an order is given.

“Our job at the [Department of Defense] is to have plans, and we have a lot of them,” Hegseth told lawmakers on the House Armed Services Committee when pressed by the committee’s top Democrat, Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA).

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“Our job at the defense department is to have plans for any particular contingency. Any contingency you need, we’ve got it,” Hegseth added. “We’ve got a building full of planners and we’re prepared to give recommendations whenever needed.”

Smith said, “Let’s be clear, you do have plans to take Panama and Greenland by force if necessary.”

Hegseth responded, “I think the American people would want the Pentagon to have plans for any particular contingency, and thankfully, we are in the planning business.”

Since returning to the White House, President Donald Trump has highlighted the strategic significance of Panama, via the Panama Canal, and Greenland, which is located near the Arctic. However, he has also left open the possibility of using coercion to get them to pursue U.S. interests.

The administration has warned about China’s influence on the Panama Canal.

Later in the hearing, Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH) offered Hegseth a chance to clarify his comments because “people try to twist your words,” adding, “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?”

Hegseth responded, “All my testimony is that the Pentagon has plans for any number of contingencies,” which prompted Turner to repeat his question.

“It is not your testimony today that there are plans at the Pentagon for taking by force or invading Greenland, correct? I sure as hell hope that is not your testimony,” Turner said, to which Hegseth responded, “We look forward to working with Greenland to ensure it’s secured from any potential threats.”

Hegseth visited Panama in mid-April to discuss the threat China’s influence in the canal poses to U.S. national security. During his visit, he announced a new agreement with the Panamanians that gives the United States the right to go “first and free” through the canal.

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The U.S. has had a military presence in Greenland for decades, though Vice President JD Vance said during a March visit to Pituffik Space Base that the U.S. needs to “take a significant position in Greenland” because other countries have “explicitly gone after Greenland … with a mind toward economic exploitation.”

The Department of Defense is considering moving the responsibility for Greenland from under U.S. European Command to U.S. Northern Command, which is in charge of defending the U.S. homeland.