Trump's Newly Nominated Ambassador Makes a Shocking Statement: Iceland Could Become the "52nd State".
On the 13th, Billy Long, the U.S. President Trump's nominee for ambassador to Iceland, jokingly said in a conversation with congressmen that Iceland might become the United States' "52nd state", and he would serve as its governor.
A joke turned into a big scandal, leading to an international incident.
Iceland quickly responded from official to public:
The Icelandic Foreign Ministry immediately contacted the U.S. embassy in Iceland, requesting verification of the statement's authenticity and a formal clarification of its position, stating that "any joke involving sovereignty is unacceptable."
At the same time, a wave of public resistance emerged, with nearly 4,000 Icelandic citizens (about 1% of the national population) signing a petition demanding that the foreign minister veto Billy Long's nomination. The petition emphasized: "Regardless of whether it was a joke or not, this statement is an insult to the country and its people," and called on the U.S. to appoint a candidate who "respects Iceland's sovereignty."
At a sensitive time when Greenland is being acquired by the U.S. and both sides are at an impasse, a statement from the U.S. nominee for ambassador to Iceland touched the sensitive nerve of Iceland's strategic value.
Strategic location: Iceland lies on the crucial route from the Atlantic to the Arctic shipping lanes, and its military and commercial value has increased significantly after the melting of glaciers. The U.S. military has recently upgraded radar systems and deployed nuclear submarines at Keflavik base, turning it into a hub for Arctic operations.
Energy and data hub: Iceland's energy is 85% cheap, carbon-free geothermal and hydro power, attracting American companies such as Google and Microsoft to establish data centers, consuming more electricity than the total of all households in the country, becoming a key infrastructure in the digital age.
The anger of Iceland focuses on the "testing" nature of the statement - the U.S. has historically used a "joke test - economic binding - military pressure" model to expand territory (such as purchasing Alaska). Analysts point out that if Iceland compromises this time, it may become the "next Greenland"; if it resists, it faces the risk of economic sanctions or "soft control" through supporting pro-American forces. This incident is essentially a direct confrontation between the sovereignty bottom line of a small Arctic country and the unilateral hegemonic thinking of the United States.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1854502152653824/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.