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A question to a U.S. admiral about the possibility of military action against Canada was met with incredulity from the military leader, who called it “preposterous” and added: “Would you ask me please, also, what my attack plans are for the Martians?”

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Gen. Jennie Carignan, Canada’s chief of the defence staff, and Admiral Samuel J. Paparo, commander of the U.S. Pacific Command, were holding a joint news conference on Wednesday as the three-day annual Indo-Pacific Chiefs of Defence conference came to a close.

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Most of the questions dealt with cooperation between Canada and U.S. military forces and the upcoming decision about the potential purchase of F-35 fighter jets, as well as issues both countries face in the western Pacific region.

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However, midway through the event, a reporter asked, “With all due respect, under what circumstances would you obey an order to launch military action against Canada?”

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Paparo looked flustered and stammered for several seconds before replying: “I find that scenario to be absolutely and utterly preposterous.” He added: “I follow the orders of the commander-in-chief, but that is a needlessly emotional question,” before concluding that “Canada is a close ally.”

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The reporter replied: “You didn’t answer the question.”

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Paparo started to repeat his earlier remarks before adding: “Would you ask me please, also, what my attack plans are for the Martians?”

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The reporter then responded: “If you want to dismiss it, by all means.”

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Paparo said: “Yes, sir. I don’t dismiss you, but I do dismiss the question.”

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The reporter continued: “You belittle it, and I don’t think that’s the right approach at all. This is a serious question about a serious issue. We’ve had threats of annexation. I know it’s a hypothetical, but nonetheless if you’ve not thought about it, maybe you should.”

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At this point, the event moderator thanked the reporter and moved on to another question. The press conference wrapped up several minutes later.

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U.S. President Donald Trump has spoken openly of making Canada the “51st state,” even insinuating during trade talks that it was something Canada wanted. He has also talked about annexing Greenland and “taking back” control of the Panama Canal.

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Trump also recently threatened to attack Oman, an ally of the United States for more than 200 years, saying last month that if Oman “gets in the way” of his efforts to reach an agreement with Iran, “we’ll bomb the shit out of them.”

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In 1840, Oman sent an emissary to the United States, the first Arab diplomat accredited there. In 1980, it became the first Gulf Arab state to formally allow U.S. military access to its airfields and ports, allowing it to operate and resupply without relying on the Strait of Hormuz.

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The president has also talked recently about pulling back military support from South Korea, a major U.S. partner in the Asia-Pacific region.

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