Greenland has rebuffed a proposal from US President Donald Trump to send a hospital ship to the Arctic territory, with its prime minister saying the offer is not needed. Trump claimed in a social media post on Saturday that Greenlanders were not receiving adequate healthcare, but local leaders dismissed the assertion.
Jens-Frederik Nielsen, Greenland’s prime minister, wrote on Facebook on Sunday: “That will be ‘no thanks’ from us. President Trump’s idea to send a US hospital ship here to Greenland has been duly noted. But we have a public health system where care is free for citizens.”
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen also defended the healthcare system, stating on Facebook: “I am 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.” She added that Greenland had “the same approach” as Denmark.
Danish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen rejected Trump’s claim that Greenlanders lacked medical care, telling broadcaster DR: “The Greenlandic population receives the healthcare it needs. They receive it either in Greenland, or, if they require specialised treatment, they receive it in Denmark. So it’s not as if there’s a need for a special healthcare initiative in Greenland.”
Trump has repeatedly expressed interest in acquiring Greenland for national security reasons, and in December appointed Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as US special envoy to the island. The US president’s overtures have strained relations with Denmark and other NATO allies, though he backed down from earlier threats to seize the territory unilaterally after a framework deal with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in January.
