US President Donald Trump’s threats to handle Greenland have reconsidered Iceland to its long -term defense plans. Iceland depends on the United States and NATO for security, as it does not have its own army.According to a recent survey by public broadcaster RUV, about 74 percent of Iceland’s population believes that Trump’s interest in Greenland and Arctic is a threat to his country.Trump has already shown interest in enaches Greenland from his presidential post. He has repeatedly suggested that the US may buy the island or take control through economic force. However, NATO ally Iceland and Denmark have strongly rejected the idea.“We can easily put ourselves into Greenlanders shoes,” stain Agartson, an Icelandic member of Parliament for Governing Social Democrats, related to Greenlanders, as stated by AFP.So far, the Trump administration has not made any comment with a population of 390,000 about a North Atlantic Island between Iceland, UK and Greenland.“Trump is threatening Greenland every day, but does not say one thing about Iceland,” said Valur Ingimerson, a history professor at the University of Iceland.He said that while Iceland is strategically important like Greenland, it lacks valuable minerals under the surface of Greenland. Despite this difference, one thing in Iceland and Greenland is the same: both have strong military relations with the United States.The US has been responsible for protecting Iceland from 1951 through NATO agreement. During the Second World War and Cold War, the US operated a major military base in Ceflawic.Although the base officially closed in 2006, American soldiers are returning to rotational base, especially after Russia’s 2014 Crimea invasion.
Looking forward to strengthen European relations:
Due to increasing concerns over Trump’s unexpected policies, Iceland believes that it should begin building strong security relations with Europe as a backup plan.“We must have a plan B – a close relationship with the European Union should build,” Ingimundarson said.The Iceland Foreign Ministry has already said that it hopes that the European Union partnership will be strong in the coming years.If the US ever leaves NATO, Iceland will support a European NATO. This will be easier than joining the European Union, which is not currently part of Iceland.“It would not need to be a member of the Iceland to become a member of the European Union, if it would try to separate itself from the US,” Ingimanderson said.Iceland began talks to join the European Union in 2009 after the financial crisis, but stopped them in 2013. A referendum to resume those dialogues is planned for 2027.Joining the European Union will not be just about defense. As insemunderson mentions, “This is also about economic prosperity, our biggest business partners, fisheries and less tariffs with more.”The fisheries policy is one of the biggest challenges ahead of Iceland as it wants to have complete control over its rich fishing water, which is an important part of its economy.
