Jens-Frederik Nielsen has rejected the US president’s offer to boost the Arctic island’s healthcare with a medical boat
Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen has rejected US President Donald Trump’s offer to send a hospital ship to the Danish self-governing territory, which Trump has long sought to acquire.
On Saturday, Trump said he would send a “great hospital boat” to the Arctic island to take care of what he called its “many people who are sick, and not being taken care of.”
Nielsen replied in a Facebook post on Sunday, saying: “it will be a no thank you from here.”
“President Trump’s idea of sending an American hospital ship here to Greenland has been noted. But we have a public healthcare system where treatment is free for citizens,” he said, contrasting it with the US system.
We are always open to dialogue and cooperation. Also with the USA. But now talk to us instead of just making more or less random outbursts on social media.
He stressed, however, that dialogue would require respect for Greenland’s domestic decisions.
Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen also said the island does not require unsolicited aid from Trump.
”The Greenlandic population receives the healthcare it needs,” he told Danish outlet DR on Sunday, noting that citizens either receive medical help on the island or in Denmark.
Trump has intensified his push to claim the Danish autonomous territory for the US since last year, mocking its defenses, which he said consist of “two dog sleds.” He also argued that the US needs Greenland for national security, claiming it is at risk from China and Russia, which have both dismissed the claims.
The annexation push has led to a growing diplomatic rift between Washington and its European NATO allies.
Trump recently announced that he and NATO chief Mark Rutte had agreed on a framework for Greenlandic and Arctic security, and softened his rhetoric. Nevertheless, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warned last week that Trump is still “very serious” about annexation.