The Pentagon reportedly did not receive any orders to send a hospital ship to Greenland, despite President Donald Trump claiming over the weekend that a vessel was “on the way.”
The military did not receive orders to deploy any Navy vessels, The Wall Street Journal reported, and both Navy hospital ships were reportedly docked at a shipyard in Alabama.
The Independent contacted the Navy, Pentagon, and White House for comment.
On Saturday, President Trump claimed a mission was heading for the self-governing Danish territory, posting an image of the Navy’s USNS Mercy hospital ship.
“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,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “It’s on the way!!!”
The same day as the President’s post, the Danish military conducted an emergency medical evacuation of a crew member on a US submarine near Greenland, flying them via helicopter to a hospital in the island’s capital, Nuuk, for treatment.
Leaders in Greenland and Denmark dismissed the suggestion a hospital ship was needed.
“That will be a ‘no thanks’ from us,’” Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen wrote on Facebook Sunday.
“President Trump’s idea to send a US hospital ship here to Greenland has been duly noted,” he added. “But we have a public health system where care is free for citizens.”
“Happy to live in a country where there is free and equal access to health for all,” Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen wrote in a separate statement. “Where it’s not insurances and wealth that determine whether you get proper treatment. You have the same approach in Greenland.”
Landry, who also served as the special US envoy to Greenland, reacted angrily to the condemnation from the officials.
“Shame on Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen!” he wrote on X on Sunday.
“After speaking to many Greenlanders about the day to day problems they face, one issue stood out—healthcare,” he added. “Many villages and small towns lack basic services that Americans often take for granted.”
The confusion over the hospital ship mission came amid larger tensions between the US and its neighbour to the north, given President Trump’s repeated overtures suggesting he wanted to take over or perhaps invade Greenland despite opposition from local officials and European partners.
In January, Trump swore off using military force on Greenland and rowed back a threat to tariff US allies who opposed the push.
He said the US and NATO allies reached a “framework of a future deal” about the Arctic island territory.
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