Denmark’s Arctic command has evacuated a U.S. submarine crew member who required urgent medical care off the coast of Greenland.

The Danish Joint Arctic Command said the evacuation took place Saturday about 7 nautical miles from Nuuk. The crew member was airlifted by a Danish Seahawk helicopter from an inspection ship and transferred to a hospital in Nuuk for treatment.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to send a hospital ship to Greenland, claiming many residents were ill and not receiving adequate care. He said the initiative would be coordinated with Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, whom he described as a special envoy for Greenland.

Denmark’s Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen told public broadcaster DR that Danish authorities had not been informed about any such deployment.

Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen defended Denmark’s healthcare system, saying both Denmark and Greenland ensure free and equal access to medical services regardless of wealth or insurance status.

Aaja Chemnitz, one of Greenland’s representatives in the Danish parliament, criticized the proposal on Facebook, calling it a desperate move that would not provide a long-term solution to strengthening Greenland’s healthcare system.

Tensions between Denmark and the United States have risen in recent months amid renewed U.S. interest in Greenland’s strategic and mineral resources.