Iceland summons US ambassador over Trump’s Stars and Stripes map - Financial Times

Iceland’s foreign ministry summoned the United States ambassador to Reykjavik on Thursday to lodge a formal protest over a map circulated by former President Donald Trump that depicted the island nation as part of the United States. The map, which featured the American Stars and Stripes flag over Iceland, was posted on Trump’s social‑media platform and quickly drew criticism from Icelandic officials.

In a statement to the press, the Icelandic ministry described the depiction as a “provocative and unacceptable” affront to the country’s sovereignty. Officials said the illustration suggested that Iceland was a U.S. state or territory, a claim that contradicts Iceland’s status as an independent nation and undermines its diplomatic standing.

The protest comes shortly after Iceland voted against opening formal talks to join the European Union, a decision that has heightened sensitivities around the nation’s autonomy and international relationships. Icelandic leaders emphasized that the map incident was viewed as a direct challenge to the country’s self‑determination, especially in the context of its recent political choices.

The United States ambassador, upon being summoned, expressed regret over the incident and clarified that the map did not reflect official U.S. policy. The ambassador reiterated the United States’ respect for Iceland’s sovereignty and indicated that the matter would be reviewed to prevent similar misunderstandings in the future.

Both governments indicated a desire to maintain constructive bilateral relations despite the diplomatic friction. Iceland’s foreign ministry affirmed that it expects the United States to acknowledge the seriousness of the issue, while the U.S. side signaled its intention to address the concerns raised by Reykjavik.