Iceland wants to strengthen its defense and reconsider joining the EU

Amid growing security threats, Iceland has decided to strengthen its defense capabilities and resume negotiations to join the European Union. This is reported by The Wall Street Journal.

It is worth noting that, although Iceland is one of the founding countries of NATO, it does not have its own armed forces. The country is also not yet a member of the European Union. For decades, Icelanders have lived in peace and security. During the Cold War, the island's location between Greenland and Norway served as a convenient base for NATO to monitor the movements of the Soviet Union's navy, but the population did not feel a military threat.

However, today the situation has changed significantly. Russia's increased military activity in the Arctic, as well as the US's attempts to acquire Greenland, have put security issues on the agenda in Iceland.

In 2014, after relations with Russia deteriorated, US officials proposed reviving the Keflavik air base in Iceland. The Icelandic government quickly accepted the offer and has invested heavily in military infrastructure in the region.

Greenland and Iceland are important to US defense strategy. In particular, Greenland plays a key role in Russia's early warning system for potential missile attacks, while the waters near Iceland are a strategic route for Russian submarines. NATO calls this area the "Greenland-Iceland-Great Britain line."

Although Iceland has long avoided militarizing the Arctic, the new circumstances have made it necessary to further strengthen its defenses.

“The idea of ​​creating an army in Iceland has never been supported by the public, and it is unlikely that this will change in the near future. But this does not mean that we cannot have an active defense policy and join international alliances. The defense sector is very important to us,” said the country’s Prime Minister Kristúrn Frostadóttir.

Frostadóttir also expressed her support for the country’s accession to the European Union. In her opinion, Iceland is closely following the political developments around it and the time has come to reconsider the issue of joining the European Union.

According to The Wall Street Journal, former US President Donald Trump’s statements about buying Greenland have also increased concerns among Icelanders. However, the country’s Prime Minister wants the possible referendum on EU membership to be seen not as a choice between the United States and Europe, but as an important strategic step for the country’s future.

Thus, Iceland is preparing to take new steps to ensure its security and deepen integration with Europe. Read 'Zamin' on Telegram!