Key facts
- U.S. President Donald Trump's threats to annex Greenland have become a significant factor in Iceland's upcoming referendum on EU membership talks.
- Pro-EU campaigners are leveraging Trump's statements to highlight geopolitical risks and the need for stronger European alliances.
- The referendum is narrowly contested, with polls indicating a close race between 'Yes' and 'No' camps.
- Arguments for joining the EU center on enhanced sovereignty and security, while opponents cite potential infringements on fisheries and farming policies.
- Economic factors, including Iceland's high inflation and the stability of the euro, are also influencing voter decisions.
Pro-European Union campaigners in Iceland are leveraging U.S. President Donald Trump's repeated threats to annex Greenland, Iceland's closest neighbor, to bolster their case ahead of a critical referendum on resuming EU membership talks. Trump's assertive stance on Greenland, which he insists should be controlled by the United States rather than Denmark, has added a significant geopolitical dimension to a vote that might otherwise have focused on domestic issues like fisheries quotas.
Dagur Eggertsson, a Social Democrat member of parliament and former mayor of Reykjavík, highlighted that Trump's ambitions for Greenland are a constant topic of discussion among Icelanders, emphasizing the island's precarious strategic position. He argued that in the face of regional tensions involving Russia and China's growing interest in Arctic resources, smaller nations like Iceland need to strengthen ties with Europe. This perspective suggests that closer integration with the EU is now more urgent than ever.
The upcoming referendum is framed around the concept of national sovereignty, a deeply ingrained issue in Icelandic politics since its independence in 1944. Both the 'Yes' and 'No' campaigns tap into this heritage. Proponents argue that joining the EU will enhance Iceland's sovereignty and protect its independence, while opponents contend that EU membership could compromise it, particularly concerning sensitive sectors like fisheries and farming, which previously derailed Iceland's EU bid in 2015.
Supporters of the 'Yes' vote, such as musician Tumi Árnason, are concerned about the current international climate and believe aligning with the EU offers a more stable path. Hannah Sigurðardóttir echoed this sentiment, questioning the reliability of the U.S. as an ally and advocating for stronger European connections.
Conversely, opponents like Guðlaugur Þór Þórðarson, an MP from the conservative Independence Party, believe Iceland's existing membership in the European Economic Area (EEA) and its bilateral defense agreement with the U.S., coupled with NATO membership, provide sufficient security. He acknowledged Trump's comments on Greenland as 'outrageous' but cautioned that U.S. administrations change.
Beyond geopolitical considerations, economic factors are also at play. In towns like Selfoss, outside the capital, voters are more inclined to vote 'No,' often influenced by the views of farmers and fishermen. However, some younger voters, like Dagmar Isabella, support EU talks, hoping that adopting the euro could help control Iceland's high inflation rate, which stood at 5.6% in July, nearly double that of the euro area.