U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that a floating hospital ship will be sent to Greenland, a self-governing territory of Denmark. In a social media post on February 21, Trump said the mission would be carried out with the help of Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry and shared a photo of the U.S. Navy hospital ship USS Mercy. He claimed the initiative aims to provide medical care to people in Greenland who are not receiving adequate treatment.

The announcement has caused surprise and confusion in diplomatic circles, as Greenland and Denmark already have advanced, publicly funded healthcare systems offering free medical services to citizens. Neither the Danish government nor Greenland’s parliament has issued an immediate response. Trump had previously appointed Landry as a special envoy for Greenland affairs in December, and Landry described the plan as significant.

Trump’s long-standing interest in Greenland’s strategic importance and past discussions about potential agreements with NATO leaders have raised concerns among European allies. Observers are debating whether the hospital mission represents humanitarian aid or a move to expand U.S. strategic influence in the Arctic region.