Iceland has summoned the US ambassador after President Donald Trump shared a controversial map on social media showing the American flag superimposed over Iceland, Greenland, Canada, Mexico and parts of Central America and the Caribbean.
The map, posted on Trump’s Truth Social account on Monday, September 7, contained no accompanying caption. It depicted the territories under a large representation of the US flag, including Iceland, a NATO ally of the United States.
The post prompted a strong reaction from Icelandic officials, who said the imagery was inappropriate and raised concerns about respect for the sovereignty of independent states.
Iceland Summons US Ambassador
Iceland’s Foreign Minister summoned US Ambassador Billy Long to formally convey the government’s displeasure over the post.
Long only took up his position in Reykjavik last month. The decision to summon a foreign ambassador is generally regarded as a serious diplomatic step and is used when a government wants to formally protest another country’s actions or statements.
Icelandic Prime Minister Kristrun Frostadottir criticised the map, saying there was nothing humorous or normal about making light of the sovereignty of states.
She said the post was an insult to Icelanders, Canadians and Greenlanders, while stressing that sovereignty was not something to be treated as a joke.
Denmark Also Criticises Trump’s Map
The controversy also drew a strong response from Denmark, which retains responsibility for Greenland’s foreign and defence policy under the territory’s current constitutional arrangement.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen reiterated that both Greenland’s government and its people have repeatedly stated that they do not want Greenland to become part of the United States.
Trump’s interest in Greenland has previously caused tensions with Denmark. The US president has repeatedly raised the strategic importance of the Arctic territory, while Danish and Greenlandic officials have insisted that Greenland’s future must be decided by its people.
The latest map has therefore revived concerns surrounding Trump’s earlier comments about Greenland.
Iceland’s Relationship With the US Under Strain
The diplomatic dispute comes at a sensitive moment for Iceland-US relations.
Icelanders have reportedly become increasingly sceptical of Trump since he first expressed interest in acquiring Greenland, which is located relatively close to Iceland.
Eirikur Bergmann, a politics professor at Bifrost University, described Trump’s latest social media post as a noticeable change in tone.
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He said Icelanders had traditionally viewed the United States as a protector and security partner, particularly because of the two countries’ long-standing NATO relationship.
Bergmann argued that the latest development could instead make some Icelanders view Washington as an intimidator rather than a defender.
Broader Tensions Involving the US
The controversy comes amid wider disagreements between the United States and several countries over trade and foreign policy.
The timing is particularly notable because Iceland recently rejected the idea of joining the European Union. Meanwhile, relations between Washington and Ottawa had also been strained by trade disputes, with the United States and Canada imposing tariffs on one another’s products.
Against this backdrop, the map has generated concern in Iceland that Washington’s approach toward its allies may be changing.
White House Yet to Comment
There was no immediate response from the White House when contacted for comment regarding the map and the Icelandic government’s reaction.
The US Embassy in Reykjavik also declined to comment on either Trump’s social media post or Iceland’s decision to summon Ambassador Billy Long.
For Iceland, however, the issue goes beyond a social media image. Officials have framed the matter as one involving respect for national sovereignty, particularly at a time when questions over Greenland and US relations with its traditional allies remain politically sensitive.
The diplomatic protest now places further attention on how Washington responds to concerns from Iceland and other allies over Trump’s increasingly provocative statements and imagery involving territorial sovereignty.
