Trump’s map sparks a diplomatic crisis... Iceland recalls US ambassador
A map shared by US President Donald Trump on his “Truth Social” platform did not pass without diplomatic repercussions, after it depicted Iceland and several other countries and regions under the US flag, prompting Reykjavik to summon the US ambassador and lodge a formal protest over the post.
The map showed the United States, Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean region covered by the American flag, with the entire area labeled “United States of America.” Trump posted the image without any accompanying explanation.
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Icelandic Foreign Minister Thórgunnður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir summoned US Ambassador to Iceland Billy Long, informing him of her country’s objection to the post. The Icelandic Foreign Ministry confirmed that its position had been clearly conveyed and described the post as “utterly inappropriate.”
In the latest reaction, Icelandic Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir described the content of Trump’s post as “ridiculous,” calling it an “insult to Icelanders, Canadians, and Greenlanders,” and emphasizing that there is nothing funny or normal about mocking the sovereignty of nations.
This comes amid tensions sparked by Trump’s repeated statements regarding the United States’ potential acquisition of Greenland, an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. These remarks have drawn objections from Copenhagen and Greenland, and raised broader concerns across Europe.
Trump’s post followed the announcement by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, during a visit to Nuuk, of a partnership and investment package worth 200 million euros between the European Union and Greenland. The package covers energy, telecommunications, raw materials, and infrastructure, and is scheduled for implementation this year and next.
For her part, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen affirmed that the position of the Greenlandic government and people is firm, reiterating their repeated insistence that they do not wish to become American.
Tensions have also intensified following a recent referendum in Iceland on resuming accession negotiations with the European Union, during which the issue of Greenland and the future of relations with the United States featured prominently in the political debate surrounding the vote.
