Denmark's military says its Arctic command forces have evacuated a crew member of a US submarine off the coast of Greenland for urgent medical treatment.
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The Danish Joint Arctic Command, on its Facebook page, said the crew member was evacuated on Saturday, some 13km off Nuuk - the capital of the vast, ice-covered territory - and transferred to a hospital in the city.
The crew member was retrieved by a Danish Seahawk helicopter deployed on an inspection ship.
The evacuation came as US President Donald Trump announced plans to deploy a hospital ship to the Danish autonomous territory of Greenland, alleging many people there were sick and not receiving care - prompting a defence of Denmark's health care system from Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.
Historically strong bilateral ties between NATO allies Denmark and the US have come under severe strain in recent months as Trump ratcheted up talk of a possible US takeover of the mineral-rich and strategically located Arctic island.
Frederiksen defended Denmark's health care system on Sunday, writing on Facebook that she was "happy to live in a country where there is free and equal access to health for all".
Australian Associated Press
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