Washington, DC, 22 February (H.S.): On Saturday, President Donald Trump announced the dispatch of a major U.S. hospital ship to Greenland, framing the mission as urgent humanitarian aid for locals facing inadequate medical care.

President Trump revealed on Truth Social that the vessel—depicted in an accompanying image resembling the USNS Mercy—is already underway, coordinated with Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, whom he praised as fantastic.

Trump stated: Working with the fantastic Governor of Louisiana, Jeff Landry, 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!!! Governor Landry responded on X, expressing pride in partnering with the President on this important issue.

The initiative aims to address unspecified healthcare challenges in the Arctic territory, though specifics on the health crisis, mission duration, or patient capacity remain undisclosed.

Queries to the Pentagon, U.S. Navy, NORTHCOM, and Danish Embassy have yielded no further clarification as of Sunday, February 22, 2026.Notably, both USNS Mercy and USNS Comfort are reportedly in an Alabama shipyard, raising questions about the exact vessel involved.

This deployment follows Trump's December 2025 appointment of Landry as special Arctic envoy and builds on a framework of a future deal for Greenland discussed last month with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at Davos. The move signals a thaw after tensions sparked by Trump's renewed interest in acquiring the Danish autonomous territory, vital for U.S. security in the Arctic, which had strained transatlantic ties.

Observers note the humanitarian gesture may pave the way for broader regional cooperation on security and resources.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar