Iceland summons U.S. ambassador over Trump's threat to take over Arctic nation

Iceland summoned the US ambassador following President Donald Trump's social media post featuring a map that seemingly displayed various countries, including Iceland, under the American flag. The post, shared on Truth Social, labeled the landmass as the "United States of America." Iceland's foreign minister labeled the act as "completely inappropriate."

Trump's actions have previously led to strained relations with neighboring nations, such as his ambitions to claim Greenland and his proposal to make Canada the 51st U.S. state. The post, devoid of a caption, was followed by a series of similar map posts by Trump renaming New Mexico as "New America." In response, Iceland's Foreign Minister Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir summoned the US ambassador to Iceland, Billy Long, who recently assumed his position.

The ambassadorial summons typically signals a formal meeting to express disapproval of a government's actions. The incident also elicited criticism from Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, who affirmed Greenland's stance against American sovereignty, stating that the Greenlandic government and people have consistently expressed their opposition to being American.

Greenland's recent €200m investment from the European Commission, aimed at bolstering education, internet connectivity, utilization of raw materials, and hydropower, was cited as a factor in Denmark's firm stance. Meanwhile, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum denounced Trump's post, emphasizing that Mexico is "neither nor will be a colony or protectorate of any foreign country," reiterating Mexico's commitment to its independence and sovereignty.