The leader of Greenland has turned down President Donald Trump’s proposal to dispatch a U.S. hospital vessel to the Arctic territory, delivering the rejection through social media on Sunday.
Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen dismissed the offer from Trump, who has made numerous public statements about his desire to acquire Greenland from Denmark’s control.
On Saturday, Trump announced through his social media channels that he was collaborating with Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, who serves as his special representative to Greenland, to deploy a medical ship to the region.
Nielsen responded to the proposal on his Facebook page, stating: “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. It is a deliberate choice.”
While declining the hospital ship offer, Nielsen indicated that Greenland welcomes continued discussions and partnership opportunities, including with the United States.
However, he criticized Trump’s communication approach, saying: “But talk to us instead of just making more or less random outbursts on social media.”
The exchange occurs as the United States, Denmark, and Greenland initiated formal diplomatic discussions in late January aimed at addressing the ongoing dispute between the nations. The talks follow several months of rising tensions within the NATO military alliance stemming from Trump’s public threats regarding the Arctic region.
Trump’s hospital ship announcement came just hours after Denmark’s Joint Arctic Command reported conducting an emergency medical evacuation of a crew member from a U.S. submarine operating in Greenlandic waters, positioned seven nautical miles from Nuuk, Greenland’s capital city. Officials have not confirmed whether Trump’s social media post was related to this medical emergency.
