Former US President Donald Trump has published a map of the United States that includes several French territories in the Caribbean, according to Euronews.com. The map, which was shared publicly, appears to depict Guadeloupe, Martinique, and Saint-Martin as part of US territory.
The publication of the map has drawn sharp reactions from French political figures and officials in the overseas territories. Franceinfo reports that the image has caused particular concern among representatives of France's overseas departments, who view the move as a provocative claim over territories that are legally part of the French Republic.
Jean-Luc Mélenchon, a prominent French left-wing politician, responded to the map by suggesting that France should send an aircraft carrier to the region, according to 20 Minutes. His comment came as a direct rebuttal to what he described as Trump appropriating the Caribbean.
The map also included Cuba under a US flag, a detail that drew a response from Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel, who defended the island's independence, as reported by Le Figaro. The inclusion of Cuba alongside French territories suggests the map may be part of a broader revisionist view of US influence in the region.
Le Parisien notes that questions have been raised about whether France should genuinely be concerned about the map. The publication appears to treat the image as more provocative than substantive, though the diplomatic implications remain unclear.
The map has no legal standing, as territorial boundaries are governed by international law and existing treaties. However, the timing and content of the image have fueled debate about US political rhetoric toward allies in the region.
Observers will be watching whether French officials issue a formal response to the map or treat it as a non-event designed to provoke a reaction.
