The United States has sent a hospital ship to Greenland in order to “take care” of their population, President Donald Trump announced.
“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. It’s on the way!!!” Trump posted on Truth Social on Saturday night.
It is unclear why the hospital vessel is needed, and Trump did not provide any other details on the deployment. But the medical ships, of which the U.S. Navy possesses the two largest, are usually sent on humanitarian missions. In the past they have also aided U.S. soldiers during the Gulf and Iraq wars.
Trump’s announcement comes as he has flirted with a U.S. takeover of Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, throughout his second term. He has maintained the Arctic island is vital for U.S. national security and has lamented Denmark’s defense of it.
Those threats recently reached a fever pitch and briefly threatened to fracture the U.S.’s relationship with Europe, which has stood behind Greenland’s independence.
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Trump would later agree to a “framework of a future deal” regarding Greenland after a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, simmering tensions.
In recent weeks, NATO has ramped up defense of the island and the Arctic region amid threats from Russia and China. The United Kingdom has also announced that its flagship aircraft carrier will soon be deployed to the region.
