WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump announced Saturday the deployment of a hospital ship to Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, stating it would provide care for “many people who are sick and not being taken care of there.” The announcement, made on Trump’s Truth Social platform, lacked specifics regarding the number of patients or the nature of the medical needs the ship would address.
Denmark’s Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen swiftly responded Sunday, asserting that Greenland does not require external medical assistance. “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,” Poulsen told Danish broadcaster DR. He emphasized the existing healthcare infrastructure, noting five regional hospitals within Greenland, including a central hospital in Nuuk serving the entire territory, and that access to healthcare is universally free for both Greenlandic and Danish citizens.
Poulsen further stated he had no prior knowledge of the planned arrival of the U.S. Hospital ship, characterizing Trump’s frequent pronouncements regarding Greenland as indicative of a “new normal” in international relations.
The announcement followed a separate incident in which Denmark’s Joint Arctic Command evacuated a U.S. Submariner requiring urgent medical attention from waters near Nuuk, Greenland, located seven nautical miles from the capital. It remains unclear whether Trump’s decision to dispatch the hospital ship is connected to this recent medical evacuation.
The move occurs against a backdrop of escalating tensions between the Trump administration and Denmark, and more broadly, with European allies, over the future of Greenland. Trump has repeatedly expressed interest in acquiring the strategically important Arctic territory, which is rich in minerals and holds significant geopolitical value. He has previously suggested the possibility of a purchase, and even floated the idea of using force if necessary, sparking a diplomatic crisis in 2025 and 2026.
Formal talks between the United States, Denmark, and Greenland were initiated in late January in an attempt to de-escalate the situation. While details of these discussions remain largely undisclosed, Trump announced last month, during the World Economic Forum, that a “framework of a future deal with respect to Greenland” had been reached. This announcement reportedly surprised Danish and Greenlandic officials.
Despite Trump’s earlier threats, he pledged at the 2026 Davos conference not to employ military force or tariffs to acquire Greenland. However, concerns persist among Danish and Greenlandic leaders that Trump remains committed to acquiring the territory. Mette Frederiksen, Denmark’s prime minister, and Jens-Frederik Nielsen, her Greenlandic counterpart, both expressed this apprehension at the Munich Security Conference on February 14th, stating that Trump’s desire to acquire Greenland was “exactly the same” and that he was “very serious” about it.
Recent efforts to demonstrate solidarity with Greenland have included a visit by Danish King Frederik X earlier this week. This marked his second trip to the island in a year, signaling a commitment to supporting Greenland amid the ongoing pressure from the U.S. Administration.
