Iceland summoned the United States’s ambassador to the country for a discussion after President Donald Trump posted a map featuring the Arctic island and several other countries falling under the American flag.
The graphic showed Iceland, Greenland, Canada, Mexico, and Cuba among the countries that the United States hypothetically annexes in this scenario. Trump made the Truth Social post without any explanation on Monday.
Iceland’s foreign affairs minister, Thorgerdur Katrin Gunnarsdottir, is particularly concerned about the fake map, given Trump’s ambitions in the Arctic region. As a result, she called in U.S. Ambassador to Iceland Billy Long, who took up the post last month.
The ministry led by Gunnarsdottir described Trump’s post as “completely inappropriate.”
The dispute comes after the Icelandic people voted against reopening talks to join the European Union in a referendum late last month. The vote was held against the backdrop of Trump’s repeated threats to take over Greenland.
Some proponents of reopened EU talks argued European solidarity would provide Iceland greater protection than NATO if Trump made similar threats. The volcanic island is a founding member of the intergovernmental military alliance.
The president has had his eyes set on Greenland for some time, dating back to his first term. He believes acquiring the Arctic island would be in America’s national security interest.
Trump’s post came hours after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visited Greenland to announce a $232.5 million investment in the semi-autonomous Danish territory. The funds, to be used over the next two years, are designed to help combat climate change, boost internet connections, and improve hydropower plants, fisheries, and education on the island.
The mock map showing the U.S. adding Iceland and the entirety of North America to its territories wasn’t the only representation of Trump’s geographic ambitions this week.
‘ISN’T UP FOR DEBATE’: NEW MEXICO GOVERNOR HITS BACK AT TRUMP OVER ‘NEW AMERICA’ POSTS
On Sunday, he floated the idea of renaming New Mexico “New America” in a map graphic posted on Truth Social. The idea comes after Trump signed an executive order last month to change the name of Lake Ontario to Lake America, a move that has angered Canada.
Renaming a state, however, cannot be achieved unilaterally by the White House. Only New Mexico has the power to change its name.