Source The Hindu
COPENHAGEN — Denmark’s military has carried out a medical evacuation of a United States Navy crew member from a submarine off the coast of Greenland after the sailor needed urgent treatment, officials said.
The rescue operation took place on Saturday about seven nautical miles (13 km) off Nuuk, the capital of the vast, ice-covered Danish territory, according to a statement from Denmark’s Joint Arctic Command.
A Danish Seahawk helicopter, launched from an inspection ship in the area as part of routine operations, retrieved the submariner and transported them to a hospital in Nuuk for medical care.
Context of Broader U.S.–Denmark Relations
The evacuation occurred against the backdrop of heightened political tensions between Denmark and the United States. On the same day, former U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans on social media to send a hospital ship to Greenland, claiming that many residents were not receiving proper medical care — a statement that drew swift public responses from Danish and Greenlandic leaders.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen defended Denmark’s health care system, emphasizing that free and equal access to care is a cornerstone of society both in Denmark and Greenland.
Meanwhile, Greenland’s leaders have publicly rejected the U.S. hospital ship offer, asserting that the island’s publicly funded health care infrastructure is sufficient and that external medical missions are unnecessary.
Strategic Strains and Public Reaction
Relations between the NATO allies have been strained in recent months due to Trump’s renewed interest in Greenland — including talk of acquiring the strategically located territory — which has sparked concern among Danish and Greenlandic officials.
The medical evacuation highlights the practical cooperation between Denmark and the United States in Arctic waters, even as political discussions and public debate over sovereignty and strategic interests continue.
