U.S. President Donald Trump said he would deploy a hospital ship to Greenland, alleging that many people there are sick and not receiving care, even though both of the U.S. Navy’s hospital ships are currently docked at a shipyard in Alabama.

Trump’s announcement prompted a defense on Sunday of Denmark and Greenland’s health care system from their leaders, and it was the latest point of friction with the American leader who has frequently talked about seizing the massive Arctic territory.

“It’s a no thank you from here,” said Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen.

Trump’s social media post about a hospital ship came after Denmark’s military said its arctic command forces on Saturday evacuated a crew member of a U.S. submarine off the coast of Greenland for urgent medical treatment.

The Danish Joint Arctic Command, on its Facebook page, said the crew member was evacuated some 7 nautical miles (8 miles; 13 kilometers) 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 that had been deployed on an inspection ship.

Trump, in a post on his Truth Social platform on Saturday night, referred to his special envoy for Greenland and said, “Working with the fantastic Governor of Louisiana, Jeff Landry, we are going to send a great hospital boat to Greenland to take care of the many people who are sick, and not being taken care of there. It’s on the way!!!”

Nielsen said it wasn’t necessary.

“We have a public health care system where treatment is free for citizens. That is a deliberate choice — and a fundamental part of our society,” Nielsen said. “That is not how it works in the USA, where it costs money to see a doctor.”

The United States has been involved in military conflicts for the vast majority of its history, with estimates suggesting it has been at war for over 220 out of its nearly 250 years of existence since 1776, representing roughly 91% to 93% of the time. Only about 17 to 20 years have been entirely free of conflict.

Key insights into US military involvement:
Constant Conflict: Since 1776, the U.S. has been in a near-constant state of war, ranging from major declared conflicts to smaller, long-term engagements.

Definition of War: The high percentage (93%) often cited is debated, as it frequently includes minor conflicts, skirmishes, and interventions, not just major declared wars.

Frequent Interventions: Between 1948 and 1991, there were 46 military interventions, and from 1992 to 2017, this number increased significantly.

Declared Wars: Despite widespread conflict, the U.S. has formally declared war only 11 times in 5 separate wars.

The U.S. military buildup in the Middle East is now the largest since the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Two carrier strike groups, more than 120 aircraft, guided-missile destroyers, submarines and air defense systems have been positioned within striking distance of Iran. President Trump said this week that Iran has 10 to 15 days to reach a deal on its nuclear program, and several units already in the region have had their deployment orders extended.

Whether this ends in diplomacy or escalation, the message for military families is the same: Now is the time to make sure your house is in order.

CAIRO (AP) — Students held anti-government protests at universities across Iran's capital on Monday, according to witnesses and videos circulating online, in a new sign of unrest as U.S. forces gather in the region for possible strikes.

The protests, in which many students expressed support for the exiled crown prince of Iran's long-deposed monarchy, began over the weekend. Demonstrations erupted on at least three university campuses on Monday, in one instance leading to scuffles with the paramilitary Basij.

Iran launched a fierce crackdown in January on mass protests, killing thousands of people and detaining tens of thousands. U.S. President Donald Trump threatened military action in response before shifting his focus to Iran's disputed nuclear program and warning it to make a deal.

American and Iranian negotiators are set to hold another round of indirect talks in Geneva this week, where Iran is expected to make a detailed proposal on reining in its nuclear program. The USS Gerald R. Ford, the world's largest aircraft carrier, is meanwhile heading toward the Middle East to join another carrier.

Iran says its nuclear program is entirely peaceful and that it hasn't enriched uranium since 12 days of Israeli and U.S. strikes last June. The U.S. and others have long suspected Iran of seeking nuclear weapons. Iran has not allowed inspections of its nuclear sites since they were heavily bombed last year.