Washington, Feb 23 (. ) US Special Envoy to Greenland Jeff Landry on Sunday criticised Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen for rejecting an offer from President Donald Trump to dispatch a hospital ship to the Arctic island.
Nielsen responded to Trump’s proposal on social media, saying “it’s a no thank you from here” and urging the US president to engage directly with Greenland rather than making what he described as “random outbursts” online.
Nielsen said Washington’s offer had been “noted” but made clear that Greenland has no need for such intervention.
“We have a public healthcare system where treatment is free for citizens. It is a deliberate choice,” Nielsen wrote on Facebook, stressing that Greenland remains open to dialogue and cooperation. “But talk to us instead of just making more or less random outbursts on social media,” he added.
Relations between Denmark and the United States, long-standing NATO allies since World War II, have come under renewed strain in recent months as Trump escalated talk of a potential US takeover of the strategically located Arctic territory.
Trump had said a US hospital vessel would be sent to “take care” of people on the island.
“Shame on Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen! President Trump and America care,” Landry wrote on X. “After speaking to many Greenlanders about the day-to-day problems they face, one issue stood out, healthcare.”
Landry said Greenland lacked sufficient medical services, equipment and specialists, forcing residents to travel long distances for treatment.
“A healthy Greenland is vital for America’s national security. America is committed to defending Greenland, and that begins by ensuring its people are defended against basic illnesses and ailments,” he added.
On Saturday, Trump announced that a hospital ship was being sent to Greenland to assist residents “who are sick, and not being taken care of,” saying the vessel was on its way.
Greenland has firmly rejected a proposal by Donald Trump to dispatch a US hospital ship to the Arctic island, after the president repeatedly threatened to seize the mineral-rich territory for “national security” reasons. Greenland is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark.
anish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen dismissed suggestions that Greenlanders were being medically neglected. Speaking to broadcaster DR, he said residents “receive the healthcare they need,” either locally or, in cases requiring specialised treatment, in Denmark. “It’s not as if there’s a need for a special healthcare initiative in Greenland,” he said.
Trump, however, claimed in a post on his platform Truth Social that the USNS Mercy- accompanied by an AI-generated image of the Navy vessel- was en route to provide care.
“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 wrote.
The exchange marks the latest flashpoint in a deepening diplomatic rift over Greenland’s future, one that Copenhagen and Nuuk insist remains firmly outside Washington’s reach. . .