Relevance to the sub: Diplomatic incident between the US and a NATO member after another Trump outburst, in a broader context of rising tensions over the sovereignty of Arctic nations.
The Icelandic government has summoned the US ambassador Billy Long for an admonishment after US president Donald Trump posted a map showing the United States ruling over North America, the Caribbean, Greenland and Iceland. The "Stars and Stripes Map" is the latest in a series of provocative cartographic actions from Donald Trump, following the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to "Gulf of America", Lake Ontario to "Lake America", and threats to rename New Mexico in the same fashion.
These map antics have caused deep worry among America's partners and neighbors, as they are paired with serious imperialist threats against Canada and Greenland, the latest of which caused a severe crisis between the US and the EU over the sovereignty of the Atlantic island.
Iceland is a NATO member but does not maintain an army, and has relied for its security on a bilateral treaty signed in 1951 with the United States, who provide Iceland with defense guarantees and military assistance, in exchange for access to Icelandic waters for maritime training.
This is the second incident of this kind this year: in January 2026, during the surge of tensions caused by the Trump administration's threats against Greenland, the US ambassador to Iceland Billy Long was caught "joking" with his former House colleagues that Iceland would become the 52nd state with himself as a governor.
The diplomatic incident further digs a rift between longtime security partners, and comes a week after Icelandic voters rejected in a referendum the reopening of negotiations to enter the European Union.
Posted by RaidBrimnes
9 Comments
!ping EUROPE
Naked imperialism is getting more and more normalized, one social media post at a time.
Posting the hottest memes of 1840.
How 100% dont fall over in shame everytime this buffon opens his twitter feed is a mystery to me.
You are supposed to be the land of the free, particularly freedom from mad kings. But at least 30% of your population is content bowing before an idiot tyrant
Revoke grandpa’s computer access and put him in a home
He is just so embarrassing
Wait. Trump is claiming Iceland, too?
https://preview.redd.it/8v2qenubvaoh1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a59a95bd6c72bb889075ca2a100d258c552b8d1b
The U.S. these days feels more cartoon villain empire from space opera these days.
>Iceland is a NATO member but does not maintain an army, and has relied for its security on a bilateral treaty signed in 1951 with the United States, who provide Iceland with defense guarantees and military assistance, in exchange for access to Icelandic waters for maritime training.
Lol end of an era. Iceland is doubtlessly going to still depend on the US for security, but they’re on notice that the mid-20th century agreement they had was a Faustian bargain, as it has been for many other countries.
The national humiliation is never ending.
Why Iceland?