Greenland, Denmark reject Trump's U.S. hospital boat

by · UPI

Feb. 22 (UPI) -- Greenland and Denmark on Sunday both rejected a hospital boat that U.S. President Donald Trump said he was sending to the Danish territory.

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

A painting of USNS Mercy, one of the U.S. two medical ships, accompanied the post. In the image, red crosses adorned the vessel's side and it was flying a large American flag as it sailed, seemingly toward Greenland.

In response, Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said that while they are "very grateful" there is no need to send the medical boat as they have free healthcare.

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"We have learned that President Trump wants to send an American hospital ship to Greenland. But here in our country, we already have a healthcare system that everyone can use for free," he said in a statement on Facebook.

"That wasn't decided for no reason. It is extremely important to society. In the U.S., it isn't like that, because going to the doctor is extremely expensive."

Nielsen added that Greenland is open to dialogue and cooperation with the United States, while chided Trump for making bombastic statements online.

"So please, if you want to talk with us, stop writing random things on social media," he said.

"If there are to be talks and cooperation, then the decision we make here in our country must be fully respected."

Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen also said in an interview with public broadcaster DR that Copenhagen had not been briefed on the matter, and added that there was "no need for special healthcare 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.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen also added in a statement: "I'm happy to live in a country where everyone has free and equal access to healthcare -- where it isn't insurance and wealth that decide whether you receive proper treatment. Greenland has the same approach."

Trump's statement comes amid heightened tensions over Greenland due to renewed rhetoric from the American president about U.S. control over the Danish territory, which has alarmed officials in Greenland, Denmark and some European allies.

Since returning to the White House in January 2025, Trump has threatened the sovereignty of Denmark with talk of taking control of Greenland and has refused to explicitly rule out doing so via military action.

He argues that Greenland must become part of the United States for national security purposes.

Greenland is a Danish territory. Denmark is a member of the NATO alliance and a U.S. ally. It is home to a U.S. military base -- Pituffik Space Base -- and Danish and Greenland officials have said they are open to discussion on further military cooperation.

Trump's insistence on the U.S. acquiring Greenland has frayed relations between Washington and its European and NATO allies.

Anna Wangenheim, Greenland's minister for Health and Persons with Disabilities, said she has not been in touch with the United States regarding the hospital ship.

In the Facebook statement, she acknowledged that Greenland requires additional resources to deal with "a significant backlog" in its healthcare system, but it has entered into an agreement with the Danish state to improve conditions.

"When President Donald Trump announces the idea of sending a hospital ship to Greenland, it touches a sensitive nerve. Many citizens have experienced that serious illness means long and difficult journeys away from family and home," she said.

"But structural challenges are not solved by isolated, symbolic initiatives from the outside."

On Saturday, Denmark's Joint Arctic Command said in a statement that it evacuated a crew member who needed urgent medical treatment from a U.S. submarine.

A Seahawk helicopter of Denmark's Ministry of Defense executed the transfer of the crew member from the submarine, located in waters about 7 miles outside of Nuuk, to health services in Greenland's capital.

Wangenheim said Trump is "welcome" to observe the effectiveness of its healthcare system in cooperation with Denmark.

"It demonstrates that, despite vast distances, we can deliver a strong emergency response when it truly matters," she said.

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

Landry late Sunday lambasted Nielsen for not accepting the ship, claiming that many Greenlanders have told him healthcare is among the main issues they face.

"A healthy Greenland is vital for America's national security," he said on X.

"America is committed to defending Greenland, and that begins by ensuring its people are defended against basic illnesses and ailments."

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