Iceland summons US ambassador after Trump posts map showing island as part of US

Iceland's foreign ministry said Tuesday it had summoned the US ambassador after President Donald Trump posted a map that seemingly showed the island as part of the United States. Foreign Minister Thorgerdur Katrin Gunnarsdottir called the image "wholly inappropriate."

Why did Iceland summon the US ambassador?

Iceland summoned the ambassador because Trump posted a map coloring the island in with the US flag, alongside other countries including Canada, Greenland and Mexico. The foreign ministry said the image sent an inappropriate message and required a direct diplomatic response.

What did Trump's map show?

Trump posted the image to social media on Monday, showing a map of North America in which Canada, Greenland, Mexico and Iceland were all colored with the US flag. The entire landmass was labelled "United States of America," and Trump posted it without further explanation.

Why does the map matter for Iceland's security ties with the US?

Iceland depends on Washington for its security, since the subarctic island has had no military of its own since gaining independence in 1944. It is a founding NATO member and holds a 1951 bilateral defense agreement with the United States.

Trump's repeated threats to take control of Greenland, a Danish autonomous territory less than 300 kilometers (185 miles) from Iceland, have already unsettled Reykjavik. His ongoing trade dispute with Canada has added to those concerns.