Danish defense minister says there is 'no need' for U.S. hospital boat

by · UPI

Feb. 22 (UPI) -- Danish defense minister Troels Lund Poulsen does not want President Donald Trump to send a hospital boat to Greenland, multiple media outlets reported Sunday.

The president posted about his plan Saturday on Truth Social, saying that the vessel would be sent to "take care of the many people who are sick and not being taken care of there."

Poulsen said in an interview that Copenhagen had not been briefed on the matter, and added that there was "no need for special health care efforts."

"It is so important to say that the Greenlandic population of course receives the necessary health treatment," Poulsen said, per The Wall Street Journal.

Residents living in Denmark's semiautonomous territory already receive free healthcare.

"I'm so happy to live in a country where there is free and equal access to heath care for everyone. The same approach exists in Greenland," said Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen, The New York Times reported.

Trump's post followed a meeting with Jeff Landry, the governor of Louisiana and Trump-appointed envoy to Greenland.

The Navy's two hospital ships are currently in an Alabama shipyard.

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