In a humanitarian operation amid heightened political tensions, Denmark’s military evacuated a crew member from a US submarine near Greenland for urgent medical treatment, even as US President Donald Trump renewed his push for a stronger American presence in the Arctic territory.
Denmark’s Joint Arctic Command said the evacuation was carried out on Saturday about seven nautical miles off Nuuk, Greenland’s capital. A Danish Seahawk helicopter, deployed from an inspection vessel, airlifted the crew member to a hospital in Nuuk for immediate care. Authorities did not release details about the medical emergency but confirmed the rescue was conducted swiftly.
The operation took place against the backdrop of growing diplomatic friction between NATO allies Denmark and the United States over Washington’s renewed interest in Greenland, a mineral-rich and strategically significant Arctic territory.
Shortly after the evacuation, Trump announced plans to dispatch a US hospital ship to Greenland, arguing that residents were not receiving adequate healthcare. In a post on his Truth Social platform, he said he was coordinating with Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, described as his special envoy for Greenland, to deploy a medical vessel to assist locals.
Danish officials said they had not been informed in advance of any such plan. Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen stated that Copenhagen had received no formal communication regarding the proposed deployment.
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen rejected Trump’s criticism of Denmark’s healthcare system, defending the country’s universal model and emphasising that both Denmark and Greenland provide free and equal access to medical services.
Greenlandic leaders also expressed reservations. Aaja Chemnitz, one of Greenland’s representatives in the Danish parliament, questioned the practicality of the proposal, suggesting it appeared largely symbolic and did not address long-term healthcare challenges.
Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen acknowledged the US offer but reaffirmed the territory’s commitment to its public healthcare framework. While remaining open to cooperation with Washington, he called for respectful dialogue rather than unilateral announcements.
Despite political strains, Denmark’s swift evacuation of the US sailor underscored continued operational coordination between the two allies in the strategically vital Arctic region.
