Denmark has stated that Greenland does not require medical assistance from other nations, following Donald Trump’s announcement that he intends to send a hospital ship to the autonomous Danish territory, which he has expressed interest in acquiring.
In a social media post on Saturday, the U.S. president claimed that Greenlanders lack adequate healthcare and said he would dispatch the vessel. “Working with the fantastic Governor of Louisiana, Jeff Landry, we are going to send a great hospital boat to Greenland to take care of the many people who are sick, and not being taken care of there,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, adding, “It’s on the way!!!”
Trump has frequently argued that the U.S. should acquire Greenland for national security reasons and appointed Landry as the U.S. special envoy to the resource-rich Arctic island in December.
In both Greenland and Denmark, healthcare is publicly funded and free at the point of use. Responding to Trump’s post on Sunday, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen defended her country’s system on Facebook, writing that she is “happy to live in a country where there is free and equal access to health for all. Where it’s not insurances and wealth that determine whether you get proper treatment.” She noted that Greenland follows the same approach.
Danish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen also dismissed Trump’s claim, telling broadcaster DR, “The Greenlandic population receives the healthcare it needs. They receive it either in Greenland, or, if they require specialised treatment, they receive it in Denmark. So it’s not as if there’s a need for a special healthcare initiative in Greenland.” He added that Trump’s frequent comments about Greenland reflect a “new normal” in international politics.
Greenland, with a population under 60,000, has six hospitals. In early February, its government signed an agreement with Copenhagen to improve patients’ access to treatment in Danish hospitals.
Earlier on Saturday, Denmark’s military coastguard evacuated a crew member from a U.S. submarine off Greenland’s coast after the sailor requested urgent medical care. The individual was airlifted near Nuuk and taken to a hospital in the capital.
Since returning to the White House last year, Trump’s persistent interest in controlling Greenland has strained U.S. relations with Denmark and other NATO allies. Last week, King Frederik of Denmark visited Greenland for the second time in 12 months to show solidarity amid Trump’s advances.
Although Trump stepped back from earlier threats to seize Greenland unilaterally after striking a “framework” deal with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in January to increase U.S. influence, both Prime Minister Frederiksen and Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen expressed concern at the Munich Security Conference this month that the U.S. remains intent on taking over the island. Frederiksen called the pressure “unacceptable” and “outrageous,” while Nielsen said Greenland has never felt so threatened.
Agence France-Presse and Associated Press contributed to this report.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about Denmarks statement regarding the US hospital ship for Greenland written in a natural conversational tone
BeginnerLevel Questions
1 What exactly happened
The US government under President Trump offered to send a military hospital ship the USNS Comfort or a similar vessel to assist Greenland during the COVID19 pandemic The Kingdom of Denmark formally declined the offer stating it was not needed
2 Why did Denmark say Greenland didnt need the ship
Danish and Greenlandic authorities assessed that their existing healthcare system was adequately managing the situation At the time Greenland had very few COVID19 cases and had implemented strict travel and isolation protocols that were effective
3 Isnt more help always better during a pandemic
Not necessarily A massive foreign military hospital ship requires significant local support port infrastructure and coordination If the local system is coping well introducing such a large external asset can create unnecessary logistical burdens and divert resources
4 Does this mean the US and Denmark are arguing
Not necessarily Diplomatically it was a polite but firm refusal of an offer These decisions are based on technical and logistical assessments However it did highlight the complex political relationship between the US Denmark and Greenland
5 Who gets to decide for Greenland
Greenland is a selfgoverning territory within the Kingdom of Denmark While Greenland manages its own healthcare foreign and security policy is handled by Denmark Therefore the formal acceptance or rejection of such an international offer is done by the Danish government in consultation with Greenlands authorities
AdvancedLevel Questions
6 Was there a political reason behind this refusal beyond healthcare
Analysts believe yes The refusal was widely seen as a signal of sovereignty Denmark and Greenland wanted to demonstrate that Greenlands affairs are managed within the Danish realm countering any perception that the US could act unilaterally there This came after a period where thenPresident Trump had expressed interest in purchasing Greenland
7 What was the strategic significance of the US making this offer
The offer was seen as a gesture of solidarity but also as a way to strengthen US influence and presence in the Arctic a region of growing strategic importance Accepting the ship could have been
