Greenland's government has strongly criticised the arrival of a US doctor in Nuuk alongside Donald Trump's special envoy, Jeff Landry, asserting that Greenlanders are not "experimental subjects".
Doctor's Presence Condemned
Joseph Griffin, who said he joined the delegation as a volunteer to "assess the medical needs" of the Arctic island, has drawn sharp rebuke from Greenland's health minister, Anna Wangenheim. She described his presence as "deeply problematic", referencing historical abuses by Danish doctors during the colonial era.
"The health sector in Greenland has historically been the subject of geopolitical interest," Wangenheim stated, highlighting the territory's vulnerability due to vast distances, chronic health professional shortages, and demographic pressures. "Greenlanders are not experimental subjects in a geopolitical project. Our healthcare system must be developed through respectful cooperation and Greenlandic self-determination, not through political envoys with hidden strategic interests."
Political Backdrop
The visit comes amid ongoing tensions following US President Donald Trump's repeated assertions that the US must acquire or control Greenland, a semi-autonomous Danish territory. Trump's comments have sparked friction between Washington and Copenhagen, both NATO members, and across Europe.
Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen, after meeting Landry and US Ambassador to Denmark Kenneth Howery, also criticised the doctor's involvement. "If you want to learn about health conditions in Greenland, you have to contact Greenland through the right channels," he said.
Nielsen noted the meeting was "conducted with mutual respect" but reiterated that Greenland is not for sale. "We have reiterated that the Greenlandic people are not for sale, and our right to self-determination is not up for discussion."
Historical Context
Healthcare remains a sensitive issue in Greenland following past abuses by Danish doctors. Last year, then-Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen issued an official apology for the intrauterine device (IUD) scandal, where thousands of women and girls, some as young as 12, were fitted with IUDs without consent between 1966 and 1970 in an apparent population control effort.
This latest US intervention follows Trump's February claim that a hospital ship was "on its way" to Greenland, an offer Nuuk refused. The ship never arrived.
Upcoming Events
Landry and Howery are scheduled to attend the Future Greenland business conference on Tuesday and Wednesday, with Howery set to inaugurate the new US consulate in Nuuk on Thursday. Foreign Minister Múte B Egede stated firmly: "We have some red lines. We are not going to sell Greenland. We are going to own Greenland for ever."
