Trump Says US Sending Hospital Ship To Greenland

WASHINGTON, Feb 22 (Bernama-dpa) -- The United States plans to send a hospital ship to Greenland, President Donald Trump said on Saturday, a move that could heighten tensions with NATO ally Denmark, reported German Press Agency (dpa).

Trump wrote on Truth Social that the vessel would "take care of the many people who are sick, and not being taken care of there".

"It's on the way!!!" he added, calling it a "great" hospital boat, but provided no further details.

Trump's repeated threats in recent weeks to potentially annex Greenland, a Danish territory of strategic importance, have strained relations between Europe and the US.

The US Navy operates two large hospital ships, each with about 1,000 beds, including 80 intensive care units. These vessels have previously been deployed after natural disasters such as earthquakes or hurricanes, and temporarily served US ports during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Greenland, with a population of around 57,000, has not recently reported a significant medical need that would require the deployment of a hospital ship. 

It is unclear whether the mission has been coordinated with the Danish government or Greenland's largely autonomous authorities, and the timeline for deployment remains uncertain. Hospital ships usually operate with minimal crews when at anchor, requiring time to mobilise full personnel. 

Greenland's public health system includes local clinics and Queen Ingrid Hospital in the capital Nuuk for complex cases, with occasional medical evacuations to Denmark. 

European countries including Germany, the United Kingdom and France have supported Denmark and Greenland, rejecting any US annexation plans. Talks between Copenhagen, Nuuk and the Trump administration are ongoing to seek a compromise.

-- BERNAMA-DPA