Greenland and Denmark reject Trump’s surprise offer to send USNS Mercy hospital ship, defending free healthcare amid U.S. push for Arctic influence and NATO tensions.
Greenland, Denmark Say “No Thanks” to Trump’s Hospital Ship Offer:
In a sharp diplomatic snub that underscores lingering tensions over U.S. ambitions in the Arctic, Greenland and Denmark have outright rejected President Donald Trump’s announcement to dispatch a naval hospital ship to the island. Trump claimed Greenlanders are “sick and not being taken care of,” but local leaders fired back, defending their universal, free healthcare as sufficient and labeling the offer unnecessary. This latest episode risks further straining relations between NATO allies, as Trump’s persistent focus on Greenland-fueled by strategic interests-clashes with assertions of sovereignty.
Greenland, Denmark Reject Trump’s Hospital Ship Offer Amid Arctic Tensions:
The saga began on February 21, 2026, when Trump posted on Truth Social: “Working with the fantastic Governor of Louisiana, Jeff Landry, we are going to send a great hospital boat to Greenland to take care of the many people who are sick, and not being taken care of there. It’s on the way!!!” He included an image of the USNS Mercy, a U.S. Navy hospital ship. The post came hours after Danish forces evacuated a U.S. submarine crew member off Greenland’s coast for urgent medical treatment in Nuuk.
By February 22, responses poured in Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen posted on Facebook: “It’s a no thank you from here. President Trump’s idea of sending an American hospital ship here to Greenland has been noted. But we have a public healthcare system where treatment is free for citizens. That is a deliberate choice-and a fundamental part of our society.” He added a pointed contrast: “That is not how it works in the USA, where it costs money to see a doctor.” Nielsen urged Trump to engage in dialogue rather than “random outbursts on social media.”
Danish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen told broadcaster DR there was “no need for a special healthcare initiative in Greenland,” noting residents receive care locally or in Denmark for specialized needs. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen echoed this 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 affirmed Greenland shares this approach.
No U.S. officials have confirmed the ship’s actual departure, and Danish authorities stated they were unaware of any formal plans.
Trump’s Arctic Ambitions and Greenland’s Strategic, Healthcare Dynamics:
Trump’s interest in Greenland began in 2019, when he proposed buying the island from Denmark, calling it a “large real estate deal” for U.S. security; Denmark dismissed it as “absurd,” leading Trump to cancel a state visit. Since his 2025 reelection, tensions rose. In December 2025, he appointed Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry as special envoy to Greenland to boost U.S. influence. Trump has emphasized Greenland’s strategic Arctic position, rich in resources and key against Russia and China. By early 2026, he threatened to seize Greenland “by force if necessary,” causing NATO outrage. A January 2026 framework agreement with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte eased immediate tensions, committing to U.S. cooperation without affecting sovereignty. Diplomatic talks among the U.S., Denmark, and Greenland continue to resolve frictions.
Greenland, with about 57,000 residents, handles domestic affairs but relies on Denmark for defense and foreign policy. Its healthcare system, challenged by geography and demographics, includes five regional hospitals and Nuuk’s main facility; specialized care is transferred to Denmark under a February 2026 agreement. The hospital ship offer seems tied to these strategic and healthcare dynamics, coinciding with a U.S. sailor’s evacuation that fueled speculation. Denmark’s central bank warned of financial strains, though leaders insist these are internal.