Greenland has rejected President Donald Trump’s offer to send a hospital ship amid renewed tensions between the Danish territory and the United States.
President Donald Trump touts ‘full access to Greenland’
President Donald Trump touted “full access to Greenland” through a framework agreement with NATO.
WASHINGTON – Greenland has rejected a seemingly impromptu plan to send a hospital ship to the island that Donald Trump is trying to acquire, saying in an impassioned statement that the U.S. president should respect the territory’s sovereignty and stop criticizing it on social media.
Prime Minister Jens Frederik Nielsen said, “From here we say no thank you.” “President Trump’s idea to send an American hospital ship to Greenland is attracting attention.”
The statement followed President Trump’s Feb. 21 social media post announcing plans to send a hospital ship to Greenland to care for the untreated Arctic island’s sick residents.
“Working with our wonderful Governor of Louisiana, Jeff Landry, we are going to send a big hospital ship to Greenland to take care of the many sick and untreated people there. It’s happening right now!!!” President Trump said, referring to the island’s special envoy.
His comments reignited tensions with Greenland over the Greenlandic government’s aggressive push to purchase the autonomous region of Denmark. President Trump backed off on his threat to launch a military invasion after a pushback from Congress, a drop in stock prices and criticism from America’s closest allies. In exchange for that effort, President Trump said the United States had agreed to a framework with Denmark that would provide “full access” to Greenland. Further details regarding the contract have not yet been revealed.
“We’re always open to dialogue and cooperation, including with the United States, but we’d love to have that conversation, not make more or less random statements on social media. Dialogue and cooperation requires respecting the fact that decisions about our country are being made right here at home,” Nielsen said.
President Trump’s announcement appeared to be prompted by the Joint Arctic Command’s announcement that the Danish Navy had evacuated crew members from a U.S. submarine for emergency treatment at a hospital in Greenland’s capital Nuuk.
Nielsen indirectly referenced the incident in a statement, saying that Greenland has a public healthcare system that provides free treatment for its citizens.
“It’s a deliberate choice and a fundamental part of our society. That doesn’t happen in the United States, where it costs money to see a doctor,” he said.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Nielsen’s remarks and did not provide details about which ships were sent to Greenland or their status or location.
