President Donald Trump announced on his Truth Social platform the dispatch of a large hospital ship to Greenland to care for the many sick individuals who are not receiving treatment there. He did not provide specific details or specify who would benefit from this assistance. He excitedly added, “It is on its way!!”
Accompanying his post was an image, likely generated by artificial intelligence, depicting the USNS Mercy, a 272-meter ship usually stationed in southern California, sailing towards a snowy mountain horizon. It is unclear if this is the actual ship being sent to Greenland.
The American president stated that the ship deployment operation is being coordinated with Jeff Landry, who was appointed in December as a special envoy from the United States to the Arctic region.
In response, the Danish authorities emphasized that Greenland does not require a targeted health initiative as access to healthcare there is universal. They emphasized that the Greenlandic population receives necessary healthcare either in Greenland or in Denmark for specialized treatment, so a special health initiative in Greenland is unnecessary.
Denmark’s Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, expressed satisfaction with the universal healthcare access in the country, emphasizing that the ability to receive dignified treatment is not determined by wealth or insurance. She mentioned a similar approach in Greenland.
The healthcare access in Greenland, where five regional hospitals operate across the vast Arctic region, is free like in Denmark. The local Greenlandic government recently signed an agreement with Copenhagen to enhance healthcare treatment for Greenlandic patients in Danish hospitals.
A territorial dispute over Greenland’s resources has been ongoing, with Donald Trump and the White House insisting on the strategic importance of the region amid perceived threats from Moscow and Beijing. Despite previous threats, Trump backed down after signing a framework agreement with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte to bolster American influence and initiate talks between Denmark, Greenland, and the United States. Danish King Frederik X visited Greenland to show support this week.
