The United States intends to deploy a hospital ship to Greenland, a move announced by President Donald Trump on his Truth Social platform Saturday, potentially escalating tensions with NATO ally Denmark. The announcement comes amid a history of strained relations between Trump and Denmark over the strategically critical island.
“It’s on its way!!!” Trump wrote, describing the ship as “a great” asset for providing medical care to those on the Arctic island who lack access to it. He did not provide further details regarding the ship’s capabilities or the specific medical needs it is intended to address.
The Danish Defense Minister, Troels Lund Poulsen, stated that Denmark had not been informed of Trump’s plans, according to a report by the Danish broadcaster DR. Poulsen also affirmed that Greenland currently receives adequate medical support from Denmark.
The U.S. Navy operates two hospital ships, the USNS Comfort and the USNS Mercy, each capable of providing approximately 1,000 hospital beds, including 80 intensive care units. These ships have been deployed in the past to provide aid following natural disasters, such as earthquakes and hurricanes, and were utilized during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in U.S. Ports.
Trump’s post included an image depicting the USNS Mercy. However, the current status of both ships indicates they are undergoing maintenance. As of Sunday, both vessels were located at a shipyard in Mobile, Alabama, according to ship-tracking data from Vesselfinder. The USNS Comfort had been undergoing work at the shipyard since earlier this month, with completion initially scheduled for the complete of April.
With a population of just under 57,000, Greenland has not recently reported a significant medical crisis necessitating the deployment of a hospital ship. Medical care is primarily provided through public health facilities, with the Queen Ingrid Hospital in Nuuk serving as the main facility for complex cases. Patients requiring specialized treatment are sometimes flown to Denmark.
The announcement follows a recent incident in Greenlandic waters where a U.S. Submarine crew member required medical evacuation. A Danish military helicopter transported the individual to a hospital in Nuuk on Saturday, according to the Danish Arctic Command. It remains unclear whether this incident is connected to Trump’s decision to deploy the hospital ship.
Trump’s repeated suggestions of potentially acquiring Greenland, and past threats of annexation, have previously caused friction with Denmark. European nations, including Germany, the United Kingdom, and France, have expressed support for Denmark and Greenland in opposing any such move. Negotiations between the U.S., Denmark, and Greenland are currently underway, though the aim of these talks remains unclear.