US President Donald Trump’s threats to take over Greenland have made Iceland reconsider its long-term defence plans. Iceland relies on the United States and Nato for protection, as it does not have its own army.According to a recent poll by public broadcaster RUV, about 74 per cent of Iceland’s population believes that Trump’s interest in Greenland and the Arctic is a threat to their country.Trump has shown interest in annexing Greenland even before his presidency. He has repeatedly suggested that the US could buy the island or take control through economic coercion. However, Nato allies Iceland and Denmark have strongly rejected the idea.Dagur Eggertsson, an Icelandic member of parliament for the governing Social Democrats, relating to Greenlanders said, “We can easily put ourselves in Greenlanders’ shoes,” as reported by AFP.So far, the Trump administration hasn’t made any comments about Iceland, a North Atlantic island between the UK and Greenland with a population of 390,000.“Trump is threatening Greenland every day but doesn’t say a thing about Iceland,” said Valur Ingimundarson, a history professor at the University of Iceland.He pointed out that while Iceland is strategically important like Greenland, it lacks the valuable minerals believed to be under Greenland’s surface. Despite this difference, Iceland and Greenland have one thing in common: both have strong military relationships with the United States.The US has been responsible for Iceland’s defense since 1951 through a Nato agreement. During World War II and the Cold War, the US operated a key military base in Keflavik.Although the base officially closed in 2006, US troops have been returning on a rotational basis, especially after Russia’s 2014 invasion of Crimea.
Looking forward to strengthen European ties:
Due to the growing concerns over Trump’s unpredictable policies, Iceland believes that it should start building stronger security ties with Europe as a backup plan.“We should have a Plan B—build a closer relationship with the EU,” said Ingimundarson.Iceland’s foreign ministry has already said it expects EU partnerships to grow stronger in the coming years.If the US ever leaves Nato, Iceland would likely support a European Nato. That would be easier than joining the EU, which Iceland is not currently a part of.“It wouldn’t necessitate Iceland becoming an EU member, if it would seek to disentangle itself from the US,” Ingimundarson added.Iceland started talks to join the EU in 2009 after a financial crisis but paused them in 2013. A referendum on whether to restart those talks is planned for 2027.Joining the EU wouldn’t just be about defence. As noted by Ingimundarson, “It is also about economic prosperity, low tariffs with our biggest trading partners, fisheries and more.”Fisheries policy is one of the biggest challenges ahead of Iceland as it wants to keep full control over its rich fishing waters, which are a key part of its economy.
