Denmark Rejects Trump’s Plan to Send Hospital Boat to Greenland

NYT Homepage

by Ali Watkins and Amelia Nierenberg

February 22, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

Danish officials swiftly rejected President Trump's proposal to send a "great hospital boat" to Greenland, emphasizing that the island already has robust healthcare services. Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen stated there was no need for additional health assistance, as Greenlanders enjoy free and universal access to care under Denmark's Nordic welfare system. The move appeared to be part of Trump's ongoing efforts to pressure Denmark over Greenland's acquisition, despite previous discussions where he seemed to back down. The announcement came after Trump posted on Truth Social, claiming the hospital ship would address healthcare needs in Greenland. He also mentioned working with Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, a loyal Trump ally without significant foreign policy experience. The hospital ship in question, U.S.N.S. Mercy, was undergoing maintenance and had been inactive since last year. Trump's proposal

Verticals

newsgeneral

Originally published on NYT Homepage on 2/22/2026