Greenland crisis US threat

Trump's hospital ship is out to sea

The hospital ship that Donald Trump sent to Greenland has left the port in the US and is out to sea, reports SVT Nyheter with reference to the website Marinetraffic.

According to the site, the ship is located just off the southeastern coast of the US. Already this weekend, Trump wrote in a post on Truth social that the ship is on its way. But satellite images and marine traffic data showed that the ship remained in port for several days after Trump's statement.

Greenlandic and Danish politicians have repeatedly rejected the hospital ship, and have emphasized, among other things, that Greenland has free healthcare.

Greenlandic Trump friend sparked the idea of ​​the hospital ship

Donald Trump's idea of ​​sending an American hospital ship to Greenland was formed during a dinner at the White House, writes the Wall Street Journal. The proposal was presented by the new Greenland envoy Jeff Landry.

- I said they really need it. Then he said "okay, then we'll send it", says Landry.

Landry himself is said to have got the idea after a meeting with the controversial Greenlandic Trump supporter Jørgen Boassen, who previously organized Donald Trump Jr.'s trip to the island last year. Boassen says that he visited Landry last week and then said that the Greenlandic healthcare system has deteriorated. He says that he did not specifically ask for the ship, but said that "any help would be appreciated".

Greenland has free healthcare and the Greenlandic head of government has explicitly said that the ship is not needed. The US Navy's two hospital ships are currently docked for maintenance and, according to the Wall Street Journal, no formal order has been received to move them anywhere.

The Greenland crisis — the issue

• Donald Trump has repeatedly demanded in 2025 and 2026 that the US take control of Greenland. He has not ruled out military or economic pressure.
• The leaders of Greenland and Denmark have consistently rejected Trump's demands. Greenland is not for sale and the island's future is determined by the Greenlanders themselves, the message has been.
• The US's move has led to a diplomatic crisis, major protests and has led to Sweden and several other European countries sending military personnel to the island.
• After threats of punitive tariffs against European countries that support Greenland, the trade agreement between the EU and the US was suspended. Relations between the US and Europe have deteriorated sharply.
• A framework agreement has subsequently been discussed between the US, Denmark and NATO, but the Danish government has stressed that sovereignty over Greenland cannot be negotiated away and that the crisis has not yet been resolved.