A U.S. Navy submariner was evacuated from Greenland by a Danish Seahawk helicopter and taken to a hospital in the territory after an incident, according to local reports. The evacuation came as President Donald Trump announced plans to send a hospital ship to Greenland, citing concerns about the quality of medical care available there.

Trump made the announcement on his Truth Social platform, stating that he was working with Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, his special envoy to Greenland, to deploy a hospital boat to the Danish autonomous territory. ‘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 wrote in the post.

The proposal, however, drew a swift response from Greenland’s Prime Minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, who rejected the idea outright. Nielsen said Greenland has a public healthcare system that provides free treatment to citizens and described Trump’s remarks as an unnecessary and abrupt statement.

‘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. It is a deliberate choice,’ Nielsen said in a Facebook post. He added that Greenland remains open to dialogue and cooperation with the U.S. but urged Trump to engage in more thoughtful communication rather than making ‘random outbursts on social media.’

The incident involving the U.S. submariner highlights the complex relationship between the U.S. and Greenland, which is an autonomous territory of Denmark. While the U.S. maintains a significant military presence in the Arctic region, including a base in Thule, Greenland, the territory has long been cautious about foreign military influence.

Greenland’s government has previously expressed concerns over U.S. military activities in the region, particularly in light of growing geopolitical tensions in the Arctic. Nielsen’s rejection of Trump’s hospital ship proposal highlights Greenland’s desire to maintain control over its own healthcare system and sovereignty.

Despite the rejection, Nielsen emphasized that Greenland is open to collaboration with the U.S. on issues of mutual interest. ‘We are always open to dialogue and cooperation, especially with our closest neighbors,’ he said in the post.