Iceland Votes on EU Membership Amid Concerns Over Greenland

Icelanders took to the polls on Saturday to decide whether to reopen talks about potentially joining the European Union. This issue has become increasingly complex due to President Donald Trump’s interest in U.S. control over Greenland, which has injected a new layer of security considerations into the debate that has long split opinions in the NATO ally.

Situated in the North Atlantic and approximately 180 miles from Greenland, Iceland lacks a military force of its own. It depends on NATO and a defense agreement with the United States for its safety, as reported by RTE and The Associated Press.

Trump’s persistent focus on acquiring Greenland has left many Icelanders feeling uneasy, prompting discussions about whether a closer relationship with the EU might offer additional security for the island country.

Roughly 275,000 eligible voters were asked to weigh in on the question of whether Iceland should resume its EU membership negotiations. As of Saturday evening, the outcome had yet to be officially announced.

If the referendum is successful, Iceland would restart its discussions with the EU, followed by another referendum regarding actual membership, according to reports.

Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir has stated her government’s commitment to honoring the result, although it’s important to note that this referendum is nonbinding. Following her vote, Frostadóttir described the race as intensely competitive and exciting.

She indicated that the campaign had elevated discussions concerning the EU, Iceland’s role on the global stage, and the country’s geopolitical status.

While domestic issues played a big part in the campaign, Trump’s ambitions regarding Greenland have also influenced Iceland’s discussions about its European ties and its place in the wider geopolitical context.

Trump has repeatedly shown his interest in acquiring Greenland, which is a self-governing territory of Denmark, once suggesting that the U.S. would gain control of this strategically significant Arctic region, “one way or the other.”

Previously, there were suggestions from the Trump administration about methods for acquiring Greenland, including military options. Such a move would present significant challenges to NATO, given that Denmark is a member of the alliance.

Trump has also mistakenly mentioned Iceland in connection with discussions about Greenland on several occasions, according to reports.

Earlier this year, Iceland briefly came into the spotlight when former Rep. Billy Long, now Trump’s ambassador to Iceland, apologized for a comment made jokingly in private about the country possibly becoming the “52nd state” with Trump as its governor.