US President Trump announces deployment of hospital ship to Greenland
New Delhi February 22. United States President Donald Trump has stated that he is sending a hospital ship to Greenland, which is an autonomous territory of Denmark located in the Arctic. The President has held a long-standing desire to acquire Greenland, raising questions about whose request prompted the decision to send a floating hospital to the region.
The President announced on Truth Social on Saturday that he is working on this initiative with his special envoy, Jeff Landry. It is pertinent to note that Landry's appointment in Copenhagen in December was described as a diplomatic violation. Landry has previously termed Denmark's rule over Greenland as an occupation and has urged the territory to seek independence to align with the United States. As per agency report, Trump targeted both Greenland and Danish officials in his post, writing that together with the Governor of Louisiana, Jeff Landry, they are sending a magnificent hospital boat to Greenland to take care of many people who are sick and allegedly not receiving care there, adding that the vessel is on its way.
Landry welcomed the announcement on the social media platform X, thanking President Trump and expressing pride in working with him on this important issue. However, neither Trump nor Landry clarified whether the deployment was requested by Denmark or Greenland, or specified who exactly needed treatment. The Department of War referred media queries to the US Northern Command, which subsequently referred them to the US Navy, but no response was received from either party.
Greenland has a publicly funded universal healthcare system, although reports have indicated consistent staff shortages and logistical difficulties. In September, Denmark pledged 1.6 billion DKK (253 million dollars) for healthcare and infrastructure upgrades by 2029 and has started further reforms.
The President's post came just hours after Denmark's Joint Arctic Command evacuated a US Navy sailor from a submarine in Greenlandic waters near the capital, Nuuk, who required immediate non-combat medical treatment. It was not clear whether there was any connection between Trump's post and this incident.
