Belgian minister condemns map showing Iceland as part of US

Belgium’s foreign minister, Maxime Prevót, has condemned a map shared by US President Donald Trump that showed Iceland as part of the United States, mbl.is reports.

“It showed complete disrespect for Iceland,” Prevót said after a meeting between the Benelux countries and Iceland’s Foreign Minister Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir. Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen and Luxembourg’s Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel also took part.

“We are here as representatives of the Benelux countries to show our support for the various challenges Iceland faces. We have much in common and share the same values,” Prevót said.

He said it was important to protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries. The map showing Iceland as part of the United States, he added, “bears the mark of complete disrespect.”

Prevót said the Benelux countries shared interests with Iceland in areas including security and maritime safety. Belgium and the Netherlands, like Iceland, are coastal states.

He also said the countries could complement each other in energy, critical raw materials, the defence industry and the energy sector. “As friends, not as competitors trying to weaken one another,” he said.

The three Benelux ministers visited Iceland after a referendum on whether to resume membership talks with the European Union. Although they fully respected the result, Prevót said they wanted to show their support for Iceland and for cooperation between the countries.

“We believe that Iceland is truly a full member of the European family,” he said. The Benelux countries are members of the European Union.

“Perhaps it was too early, but we will see over the coming decades,” Prevót said of the referendum. Icelanders voted against restarting membership talks with the European Union.