Greenland says 'no thanks' to Trump's 'great hospital boat'

The US president said a vessel was "on the way" to Greenland, with the move coming amid a rift between the US and Europe over control of the island. Greenland and Denmark hit back, saying no medical help is needed.

US President Donald Trump said Saturday he was sending a hospital boat to Greenland, a semi-autonomous Danish territory. 

He said the boat would treat many "sick" people in the island.

Trump did not provide any additional details about which people he was referring to or how many people the boat would help.

"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.

"It's on the way!!!" he added.

What did Greenland and Denmark say about the boat?

Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said "no thanks" in response to Trump's statement on Sunday.

"President Trump's idea of sending an American hospital ship here to Greenland has been noted. But ‌we have a public health care system where treatment is ‌free ​for citizens. It is a deliberate choice," Greenland's premier said in a social media post.

Nielsen said Greenland was open to cooperation with the United States, but criticized the US president's chosen means of communication.

"Talk to us instead of just making more or less random outbursts on social media," ⁠Nielsen ​said.

Meanwhile, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said in an Instagram post she was "happy to live in a country where access to health care is free and equal for all. Where insurance or wealth does not determine whether one receives dignified treatment."

There are five regional hospitals in Greenland, with a hospital in the capital, Nuuk, serving patients from across the territory.

Access to health care is free in Greenland and in Denmark.

Denmark's defense minister also stressed that Greenland does not need medical assistance from other countries in response to Trump's statement.

"The Greenlandic population receives the health care it needs. They receive it either in Greenland, or, if they require specialized treatment, they receive it in Denmark," Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen told Danish broadcaster DR. "So it's not as if there's a need for a special health care initiative in Greenland."

Lund Poulsen told DR he was not aware of the US hospital ship's possible arrival. 

"Trump is constantly tweeting about Greenland. So this is undoubtedly an expression of the new normal that has taken hold in international politics," he said. 

Danish Arctic Command evacuates US submariner

Trump's post on Saturday came after Denmark's Joint Arctic Command said it had evacuated a US submarine crew member who required urgent medical attention.

The submarine was in Greenland's waters, seven nautical miles outside of Nuuk.

It was not clear if Trump's post about sending a hospital ship was connected in any way to the evacuation.

Trump's Greenland push ratchets up tensions

The announcement, however, gains significance amid a deep rift between the Trump administration and Europe over control of the territory. 

Greenland, the world's largest island, is a mineral-rich, strategically important Arctic territory. It is self-governing but remains part of the Kingdom of Denmark.

Trump says the island is crucial for US national security and that he wants to acquire it. He previously even threatened to seize it by force if necessary.

The rhetoric has ratcheted up tensions between Washington and its European NATO allies. 

Greenland, Denmark and the US have engaged in talks to resolve the situation.

Trump dialed back his threats after reaching a "framework" deal with NATO chief Mark Rutte to ensure greater US influence over Greenland.

Earlier this week, Denmark's King Frederik X visited Greenland.

It was his second visit to the island in a year, an attempt to demonstrate unity with the territory in the face of Trump's push to acquire control of the vast island.

Edited by: Kieran Burke