Trump: "Sending Hospital Ship to Greenland to Treat Residents"...Citizens: "Focus on US Healthcare Instead"

US Navy Hospital Ship With 1,000 Beds Heads to Greenland

US President Donald Trump, who has been strongly insisting on the annexation of Greenland, announced that he would send a US Navy hospital ship to Greenland to treat local residents.

US Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort. EPA, Yonhap News

On the 21st (local time), US broadcaster CNN and other foreign media reported that this move by President Trump is being interpreted as part of his characteristic "carrot-and-stick" strategy: he is mobilizing virtually every means available, including tariffs and hints of military force, to push for the incorporation of Greenland, while at the same time taking conciliatory gestures.

Immediately after meeting with Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry that day, President Trump wrote on Truth Social, a social networking service (SNS), "We are sending a hospital ship to care for many people who are sick and not receiving proper treatment," adding, "It is on its way now."

The US Navy is currently operating two large hospital ships, each equipped with 1,000 beds. The White House has not specified which of the two hospital ships will be dispatched. The US Navy has also not yet made any comment to the media.

Local public opinion toward President Trump’s "moderate" approach remains cold. The roughly 56,000 residents of Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, receive free medical services. Orla Joelson, a Greenland civic activist, said, "We appreciate it, but we will decline," adding, "We are living healthily, eating our traditional foods such as seal blubber, which is rich in vitamins." He drew a line by saying that it would be better for Trump to pay attention instead to the US healthcare system, which is struggling with the problem of high medical costs.

President Trump has previously declared that he would incorporate Greenland into US territory. Greenland is considered a strategic stronghold rich in minerals such as rare earth elements and capable of checking Russia and China. The Trump administration had earlier stated in its National Security Strategy (NSS) last year that it would completely block threats from external competitors in the Western Hemisphere, including Greenland.

Earlier this year, immediately after President Trump carried out a surprise operation to oust Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, he sparked controversy by saying that he would not even rule out the use of force to achieve the annexation of Greenland.

Subsequently, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said on the 13th in Munich, Germany, that she had a "constructive" meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, together with Greenland Prime Minister Jens Frederik Nielsen, while also stating that President Trump’s desire to purchase Greenland appeared unchanged.

Meanwhile, Danish King Frederik X, who ascended the throne in January 2024, has visited Greenland three times: in April last year, in July 2024, and most recently up to the 18th of this month. Commentators noted that three visits to Greenland in less than two years are rare. Major foreign media interpreted the visits as intended to signal support for and unity with Greenland in the face of President Trump’s threats.