Washington: U.S. President Donald Trump has revealed plans to dispatch a hospital ship to Greenland, coordinating with Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry. The announcement was made on social media before a dinner with Republican governors at the White House, indicating efforts to address healthcare needs in the semi-autonomous Danish territory, which Trump has shown interest in acquiring.
According to Thai News Agency, the announcement has raised questions, as neither the White House nor Governor Landry's office has responded to inquiries about whether the assistance was solicited by Danish or Greenlandic authorities, or specifics regarding the patients in need. The move comes after King Frederik of Denmark's second visit to Greenland this year, highlighting national unity in response to U.S. interest in the island. Recent talks involving Greenland, Denmark, and the United States sought to ease NATO tensions.
The timing of Trump's announcement coincided with Denmark's Joint Arctic Command's report of an emergency medical evacuation from a U.S. submarine near Nuuk. The connection between this incident and Trump's plan remains unclear, as does the involvement of the Louisiana governor. Notably, the U.S. Navy operates several submarines in the area. Currently, the USNS Mercy and USNS Comfort, the two hospital ships, are not stationed in Louisiana.