After US President Donald Trump shared a map showing Iceland and some regions under the American flag, Icelandic Foreign Minister Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir summoned US Ambassador Billy Long for a meeting.
The image published on the Truth Social platform showed the United States, Canada, Greenland, Iceland and Central America covered by the American flag. Trump did not add any explanation to his post.
Iceland’s Foreign Ministry said the ambassador was clearly told during the meeting that the map post was completely inappropriate.
Post came amid debate over Greenland
The map was posted as Trump reiterated his desire to gain control over Greenland, an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark. Trump had previously referred to Iceland while speaking about Greenland at the World Economic Forum in Davos and at the White House.
White House officials initially rejected claims that Trump had confused Iceland with Greenland. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio later acknowledged that Trump had confused the two territories.
Trump had previously shared images showing Greenland under the US flag or other American symbols.
Reaction in Iceland
The latest image drew a backlash in Iceland. Sonja Thorbergsdottir, president of the Federation of State and Municipal Employees of Iceland, described the post as “disrespectful.”
“This is not how civilized nations should treat one another,” Thorbergsdottir said.