Landry: Denmark's system does not fit Greenland

Former member of parliament Aaja Chemnitz (IA) reacts on Facebook to Donald Trump's new statements about Greenland:

- It is, however, incredible what tyranny we must not put up with from Trump, writes Aaja Chemnitz and continues:

- Insisting on calling our homeland a piece of ice that is poorly managed shows once again the lack of respect for our country.

In recent days, Donald Trump has linked his desire for Greenland with a criticism of NATO. He apparently believes that NATO should have helped him get Greenland.

Aaja Chemnitz sees it as Trump wanting to use Greenland as an excuse to withdraw the US from NATO, and she makes a call to the alliance:

- Now NATO must show whether there is unity and some respect left - for itself and for our country, writes Aaja Chemnitz.

The newly elected member of parliament, Naaja H. Nathanielsen, is now reacting to Donald Trump's repeated desire to take over Greenland.

In a short update on Facebook, Naaja H. Nathanielsen states that Greenland has the right to self-determination:

- Unfortunately, we live in a time where we must again and again state that we are a people, a culture and a country with the right to self-determination. We control the direction of the sled. Strong forces are copying a rhetoric that belongs to the past these years.

- You can see it seeping around society, so that it no longer only belongs to the outer fringes. It must be spoken against and not silenced. Greenland is a democracy. We recognize international law. And it is not up to other countries to define our present or future. Threatening with superior force is not winning. It is a declaration of bankruptcy, says Naaja H. Nathanielsen.

The Danish healthcare system suits Denmark, but it does not suit 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 visited the United States earlier this month with the country's special envoy to Greenland and governor of Louisiana Jeff Landry.

Boassen told TV2 that he had spoken to Jeff Landry about the Greenlandic healthcare system:

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

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

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 cared for.

Trump's announcement came immediately after he had been to dinner with Jeff Landry in Washington.

Trump's hospital ship has received an immediate 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 may need help from Denmark and Greenland this weekend.

Former chief analyst in the Danish Defence Intelligence Service Jacob Kaarsbo assesses this 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 off 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 off Nuuk. According to the Arctic Command, the crew member needed emergency medical treatment.

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

Landry has however had visits 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 show them our fantastic culture of hospitality!

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

Landry is on the field these days, 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. 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 met Tom Dans myself, 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 is off the mark.

Aaja Chemnitz acknowledges that there are challenges within the healthcare sector in Greenland but points out that the challenges are being addressed. 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 this 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.

- It 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 Greenland Government 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 in this country, and he is a very unifying figure. This is proven every time he is here.

- I'm glad he wanted to come, says Jens-Frederik Nielsen.

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

- We have been in this situation for a long time. I think the most important thing is that 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 bar in a packed Katuaq on Wednesday afternoon.

During the coffee party, the citizens present have the opportunity to greet the king, and this has attracted many from their homes and to the coffee party 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 city. That is why we are here as guests in the coffee party, 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 greet him, says Sussi Høegh.

Sits opposite Elisabeth Thorin:

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

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

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

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

- We have baked cakes for around 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 states 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 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 program is a visit to the Armed Forces ship Vædderen in the harbor of Nuuk.

Here, students from Arctic Basic Education greet the King and also show 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 explained a little about the various machines, while he listens with interest.

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

Helga Rina Kristoffersen is 18 years old and is in 1st year 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 nice that he comes to visit us. However, I will not accompany him on his further visit 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 Program.

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 been, and it always will be, the king says.

Here the king 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 a lot.

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 that cares a lot about the royal family:

- I was touched to the core. Seeing him is like getting warmth in your body. I am very touched by his visit, especially during 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 Danish Ombudsman Julie Præst Wilche.

On the way, the King has greeted children from the Mikisoq kindergarten.

Sermitsiaq's reporter reports that a number of citizens were present, and of course also a certain 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 told Sermitsiaq.