Denmark has affirmed that Greenland is adequately equipped to handle its healthcare needs, a response to former U.S. President Donald Trump’s assertion that he was dispatching a hospital ship to the autonomous Danish territory. The statement from Copenhagen came on Sunday, February 22, 2026, following Trump’s post on his social media platform, Truth Social, announcing the deployment of a “great hospital boat” to address purported healthcare deficiencies in Greenland.
Danish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen told the Danish broadcaster DR that the Greenlandic population already has access to the medical care it requires, either within Greenland itself or through specialized treatment in Denmark. “So it’s not as if there’s a need for a special healthcare initiative in Greenland,” Poulsen stated. Access to healthcare is universally free in both Greenland and Denmark, with five regional hospitals serving the vast Arctic island, and the Nuuk hospital providing services to patients from across the territory.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen publicly defended her nation’s healthcare system, posting on Facebook that she was “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.” Frederiksen added that the same principles apply in Greenland, accompanying her message with a smiling emoji.
The Greenlandic local government recently formalized an agreement with Copenhagen in early February to enhance the provision of medical treatment for Greenlandic patients within Danish hospitals. This agreement predates Trump’s announcement and suggests a collaborative approach to healthcare already in place.
Trump’s claim of sending a hospital ship to Greenland echoes past expressions of interest in the territory, including previous statements about the U.S. Potentially acquiring it for security reasons. While he had previously floated the idea of a purchase, Trump later reached a “framework” deal with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte to secure greater U.S. Influence in the region.
Poulsen indicated he had not been informed of the planned arrival of the hospital ship, characterizing Trump’s frequent commentary on Greenland as “the recent normal that has taken hold in international politics.” The Danish Arctic command, separately, announced the evacuation of a U.S. Submarine crew member from near Nuuk on Saturday after the sailor requested urgent medical attention, a separate incident that occurred prior to Trump’s announcement.
