Landry: Denmark's system does not suit Greenland

The Danish healthcare system is suitable for Denmark, but it is not suitable for Greenland.

This is what Jeff Landry, the US special envoy to Greenland, writes on the social media X.

Despite the fact that the healthcare system in Greenland functions in the same way as in Denmark, he does not believe that it has the same outcome.

- Deploying a US military hospital ship in Greenland would significantly expand access to advanced diagnostics, surgical services and preventive treatment, writes Jeff Landry.

According to him, President Donald Trump is committed to strengthening healthcare outcomes throughout the country.

The well-known Trump supporter Jørgen Boassen has visited the US earlier this month with the country's special envoy to Greenland and governor of Louisiana Jeff Landry.

Boassen tells TV2 that he has spoken with Jeff Landry about the Greenland healthcare system:

- Our healthcare system is faltering, and it is a death sentence to get sick in Greenland, Jørgen Boassen tells TV2.

Boassen believes that Greenland should accept any help for the healthcare system from the US.

Over the weekend, US President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social that he, in collaboration with Jeff Landry, was sending "a fantastic hospital ship" to Greenland, which would treat the sick who are not being taken care of.

The announcement from Trump came immediately after he had dinner with Jeff Landry in Washington.

Trump's hospital ship has immediately received a cool reception from the chairman of the Greenlandic government, Jens-Frederik Nielsen (D), who has urged the president and the US to address the issue through proper channels rather than "more or less random outbursts on social media."

With his announcement to send a "fantastic hospital ship" to Greenland, the US president is trying to divert attention from the fact that an American submarine had to receive help from Denmark and Greenland this weekend.

This is the assessment of former chief analyst in the Defence Intelligence Service Jacob Kaarsbo to TV2, where he calls Trump's announcement a media stunt.

According to Jacob Kaarsbo, the episode about the need for help for a crew member on an American submarine near Nuuk is unpleasant for Trump:

- It is an unpleasant situation for Trump, which shows that he needs us and his allies, and it is a picture that the Americans cannot manage on their own in Greenland, Jacob Kaarsbo tells TV2.

It was Saturday that the Arctic Command evacuated a crew member from the American submarine, which was located off Nuuk. According to the Arctic Command, the crew member needed urgent medical treatment.

As far as is known, the US special envoy to Greenland, Jeff Landry, has not yet visited Greenland.

Landry has, however, had a visit from Greenland from, among others, the well-known Trump supporter Jørgen Boassen. This is shown in a post on X from February 15.

In the post, Landry writes:

- Lovely to host some of the wonderful Greenlandic people for the Endymion ballet! We will show them our fantastic culture of hospitality!

He has attached a picture of himself standing with Jørgen Boassen and holding Erfalasorput.

Landry is currently on the front lines defending a proposal from Donald Trump to send a "fantastic hospital ship" to Greenland. Landry claims to have spoken to many Greenlanders who have pointed out that the healthcare system is a major problem.

The US has apparently not sent any official request to Greenland and offered help. The chairman of Naalakkersusiut, Jens-Frederik Nielsen (D), has made it clear that Greenland has its own healthcare system with free treatment for its citizens.

Member of Parliament Aaja Chemnitz is now responding to President Donald Trump's announcement that the US will send a hospital ship to Greenland.

- Another day. Another crazy news. Trump wants to send an unmaintained hospital ship to Greenland. It seems quite desperate and does not contribute to the permanent and sustained boost to the healthcare system that we need, she writes and continues:

- I even met Tom Dans, Trump's man in the Arctic, and he talked about how we had tuberculosis problems in Greenland, so I can understand where their thinking comes from and the intention may be good in principle, but the solution falls short.

Aaja Chemnitz acknowledges that there are challenges within the healthcare sector in Greenland but points out that the challenges are being taken care of. For example, 35 million kroons more have been allocated annually since the last parliamentary election, and this year an extra 185 million kroons have been allocated for treatment for Greenlanders who need treatment in Denmark.

- Our healthcare system is deeply challenged. Also more than what you see in Denmark. And it can best be solved with Denmark, as one of the richest and most well-educated countries in, for example, the health sector. Not the USA, which has its own health problems.

- This requires closer and more committed efforts from Denmark in the health sector in Greenland, writes Aaja Chemnitz.

During the coffee break in Katuaq, Chairman of the Greenlandic Parliament Jens-Frederik Nielsen gives a short interview to the press present.

He says, among other things, that he is very happy about the King's visit:

- He is popular and loved by the citizens of this country, and he is a very unifying figure. This is proven every time he is here.

- I am happy that he wanted to come, says Jens-Frederik Nielsen.

He is also asked about the signal of the visit to the USA and Donald Trump:

- We have been in this situation for a long time. I think the most important thing is that the citizens of Greenland can feel the solidarity with the royal house, which proves to be very strong every year.

There is applause and cheers when King Frederik arrives at the coffee table in a packed Katuaq on Wednesday afternoon.

During the coffee table, the citizens present have the opportunity to greet the king, and this has drawn many from their homes and to the coffee table in the cultural center.

Two of the guests, Sussi Høegh from Ilulissat and Elisabeth Thorin from Qasigiannguit, are already in Katuaq. They hope to see the king up close.

- It is important for us to see the king in our town. That is why we are here as guests at the coffee table, says Sussi Høegh and continues:

- I am not very good at Danish. But I would tell him that one of our classmates in the pedagogical school, Frederik, would very much like to say hello to him, says Sussi Høegh.

Sitting opposite is Elisabeth Thorin:

- I would say to him in Greenlandic, "tikilluarit", (welcome, ed.). That's it, says Elisabeth Thorin.

Before 3:45 p.m. Katuaq had to lock its doors because there were no more seats inside Katuaq.

The final preparations for the coffee party in Katuaq are almost in place.

Director of Katuaq Ivaaq Kriegel informs Sermitsiaq that the cultural center expects 500 guests this afternoon:

- We have baked cakes for about 500 guests. And we expect the number of guests to be around 500. When the guests start arriving, we will get busy brewing fresh coffee, says Ivaaq Kriegel.

The director informs that Katuaq's doors will open to guests as early as 3:00 p.m. King Frederik is expected to arrive at 3:45 p.m.:

- We know that the king would very much like to greet guests who come here, says Ivaaq Kriegel.

A little after 3:00 p.m., a number of citizens have already arrived in Katuaq to be ready for the coffee party, which begins at 3:45 p.m.

The next item on the agenda is a visit to the Armed Forces ship Vædderen in the harbor in Nuuk.

Here, students from the Arctic Basic Education Department greet the King and also show off equipment to King Frederik and Jens-Frederik Nielsen.

Due to the coffee party in connection with the King's visit to Nuuk, the police will be heavily present around Katuaq.

This is what the Greenland Police writes on their Facebook page.

- In addition, increased traffic is expected around Katuaq between 3:00 PM and 5:00 PM in connection with the planned coffee party, it says.

Citizens are encouraged to show consideration for each other in traffic in the area.

King Frederik visits Royal Greenland in Nuuk, where he is given a tour of the company's factory.

Sermitsiaq's reporter reports from the scene that the work of filleting fish at the factory continues while the king is visiting.

King Frederik and his entourage are appropriately dressed in plastic suits and masks for hygiene reasons during the tour.

During the tour, the king greets one of the employees and is given a brief explanation of the various machines, while he listens with interest.

Chairman of the Greenland Government, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, is also on the tour.

Helga Rina Kristoffersen is 18 years old and is in 1st grade at GUX.

She is one of those who sang for King Frederik during his visit to her educational institution on Wednesday:

- I think it is great that he comes to visit us. But I will not accompany him on his further visits as I will be studying myself, she tells Sermitsiaq.

GUX students have chosen to sing “Nuna asiilasooq” for the king during his visit on Wednesday.

Here the students were able to meet King Frederik, who is visiting GUX during his visit to Nuuk.

The next item on the day is a visit and tour of Royal Greenland, after which the trip continues to the inspection ship Vædderen, where King Frederik will meet students at the Arctic Basic Education.

The day ends with a coffee meeting in Katuaq at 3:45 p.m.

King Frederik has finished lunch and says a few words to the press as he comes out of Hans Egede's House:

- It is a great joy for me to be back in Greenland, he says and continues:

- The well-being of the Greenlandic people is very important to me. It always has, and it always will, says the king.

Here he is certainly referring to the pressure that the population has been under from the USA. The superpower has very directly expressed its desire to take over Greenland.

King Frederik has previously stated that the situation in Greenland has affected both him and Queen Mary greatly.

King Frederik will continue to GUX after lunch:

- My program is now getting started, and I am looking forward to walking up to the high school, where I will meet the youth and talk to them a little about how they see their country right now.

Stina Jensen, 75, is standing at Hans Egede's House and has just seen King Frederik enter the house where he is going to have lunch.

Stina Jensen is from the older generation who cares a lot about the royal family:

- I was touched to the core. Seeing him is like getting warmth in my body. I am very touched by his visit, especially at this time when we have experienced difficult things from the outside.

- I have looked through the entire program and will follow the king all day. Of course I will also go to the coffee break, she says.

King Frederik has been driven from the airport and arrived for a visit to the Royal Ombudsman Julie Præst Wilche.

The King has greeted children from the Mikisoq kindergarten along the way.

Sermitsiaq's reporter reports that quite a few citizens were present, and of course also some security presence in the form of police.

Gerda Petersen from Nuuk is one of the citizens who is at the airport to welcome the king.

- I am very happy that he is now coming to visit us. It is important for the country that the king is coming in such a difficult time, she tells Sermitsiaq.

A plane carrying King Frederik has now landed at Nuuk Airport, and the King has greeted the Chairman of the Greenlandic Government, Jens-Frederik Nielsen.

When the King stepped off the plane, cheers could be heard from the citizens who were standing on the edge of the airport area.

A few citizens have turned out to see King Frederik land in Nuuk.

One of them is Hansine Lyberth, and she tells Sermitsiaq that she follows King Frederik closely for a special reason:

- I was born in 1968, the same year as the King. So it is important for me to keep up with the King.

- I am on holiday in Nuuk, and therefore I have taken the opportunity to see him arrive and follow him on his visit. I am also going home to Maniitsoq tomorrow. I will use today to follow him, and go to a coffee shop in Katuaq in the afternoon, says Hansine Lyberth to Sermitsiaq.