Jens-Frederik Nielsen (D) explains to KNR that the Americans requested to sail into Greenlandic waters on Friday, February 20, when a passenger on board the submarine was seriously ill:
- This is a seriously ill person on board a submarine that is in our waters and close to our country.
- Therefore, we have an obligation to help. Within defense cooperation, we must remember that we are part of a community, and therefore we will naturally fulfill our obligations and provide assistance, says Jens-Frederik Nielsen in an interview with KNR.
The Chairman of the Greenlandic Parliament has thus provided new information in the case of the nuclear-powered submarine USS Delaware, which surfaced seven nautical miles from Nuuk on Saturday.
Case raised politically
The Arctic Command evacuated the sick crew member from the submarine, and he was taken for treatment at Queen Ingrid's Hospital.
The case has been raised politically, with Siumut member Erik Jensen announcing §37 questions to the Greenlandic Parliament in the case, because Siumut wants answers to what the American submarine was doing in Greenlandic waters.
The question must be seen in light of the fact that the situation between the United States and Greenland has been extremely tense due to President Donald Trump's many statements about wanting to take over Greenland.
However, Jens-Frederik Nielsen tells KNR that the submarine should not be a cause for concern. Jens-Frederik Nielsen refers to the fact that the matter is handled within the framework of defense cooperation, of which Greenland is a part, and the submarine is from the United States and is part of that cooperation.
