Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen has strongly criticized the US Secretary of Defense for failing to clearly reject potential American plans to invade Greenland. Rasmussen expressed his disapproval during a press briefing on Friday, following his party leader’s speech at the People’s Meeting on Bornholm.

Rasmussen described the Secretary’s response as “reprehensible” and “disappointing,” arguing that it exacerbates the pressure on the Danish Realm. He emphasized the need to resist such pressure.

The Foreign Minister’s remarks were prompted by US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s indirect answers when questioned about potential US plans to invade Greenland during a congressional committee hearing on Thursday. Hegseth was repeatedly asked whether the Department of Defense’s policy included preparedness to take Greenland and Panama by force.

In response, Hegseth stated that the Department of Defense’s role involves having plans in place, without explicitly denying the possibility of military action in Greenland. This ambiguous response has drawn sharp criticism from the Danish Foreign Minister.