#iceland

We, the signatories listed below, express our profound concern regarding the catastrophic humanitarian situation that persists in Gaza. The aid entering Gaza has remained largely insufficient, both in quantity and in quality, while nearly the entire population depends on life-saving services. The recent decision by the Israeli High Court to reject the INGOs’ appeal regarding the registration law is deeply concerning. The registration law will affect and severely limit the INGO’s capacity to res…

Green Group Communiqué on World Ocean Day, 8 June 2026 On World Ocean Day, we recognize and celebrate the ocean—Earth’s most vital life-support system and an irreplaceable resource that deserves immediate and sustained protection. Our ocean covers over 71% of Earth’s surface and is fundamental to planetary health. It regulates our climate, absorbs approximately a third of human-produced carbon dioxide, and generates more than half of the oxygen we breathe. Without a healthy ocean, life as we k…

The Icelandic Coast Guard, in close coordination with the Defence Directorate of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and NATO Allied Command Operations, is tracking the movements of a Russian naval vessel currently operating outside Iceland's  territorial waters but within its Exclusive Economic Zone, including in the waters between Iceland and Greenland. The vessel in question is the Russian intelligence ship Yuri Ivanov, which was observed monitoring NATO exercises in the North Atlantic last wee…

Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada The HonourableAnita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs;Penny Wong, Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs;Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Denmark’s Minister for Foreign Affairs;Margus Tsahkna, Estonia’s  Minister of Foreign Affairs;Kaja Kallas, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy;Elina Valtonen, Finland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs;Jean-Noël Barrot, France’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs;Þorgerður Katrín G…

On 1-3 June 2026, the NATO Military Committee, led by its Deputy Chair (DCMC), Lieutenant General Winston P. Brooks, visited Iceland, including the NATO Radar and Communication site in Bolungarvík. Welcoming the Military Committee to Iceland, Chief of Defence Jónas G. Allansson emphasized the growing importance of Allied cooperation in the North and steps Iceland has taken to deepening its response to shared security challenges. "Iceland remains committed to hosting and enabling Allied operatio…

The Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs will host a conference at Harpa Concert Hall tomorrow, 2 June, to mark the publication of a report on Iceland’s currency options. Prepared by a panel of international experts, the report examines the advantages and disadvantages of maintaining an independent currency compared with joining a larger currency area, such as the euro area. Its purpose is to provide a solid foundation for an informed national discussion on the future of Iceland’s monetary …

On 29 May 2026, the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, and Sweden and the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy met for the 23rd Session of the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) in Sopot, Poland, at the invitation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland. The Council reiterated in the strongest terms its condemnation of Russia’s illegal, unjustified and unprovoked …

The Consular Service is one of the legal cornerstones of the Foreign Service. It provides protection and assistance to Icelandic citizens in emergencies and augments Icelandic citizens' access to the services of Icelandic government agencies overseas. the scale of the Consular Service's tasks has expanded considerably along with the evolution of Icelandic society and new global challenges, which is why a regularly reviewed Consular Service Strategy has been developed. The first Consular Service…

Þorbjörg Sigríður Gunnlaugsdóttir, Minister of Justice, and Oleksiy Gavrysh, Ambassador of Ukraine to Iceland, held a productive meeting at the ministry earlier this month, where they discussed various issues relating to Ukrainian refugees in Iceland.At the meeting, the Minister reiterated its firm and continued support for Ukraine, its sovereignty, and its people. She also reviewed the proposed amendments to the legislation on collective protection in situations of mass displacement. The propos…

The Government of Iceland has approved anew industrial policythat sets out a long-term vision for economic growth, productivity, and competitiveness to 2035. The policy is intended to support sustainable economic development and create a more predictable environment for investment and business activity. It is accompanied by anaction plan for 2026–2027containing 35 measures across a range of sectors. Key priorities include strengthening energy supply and infrastructure, simplifying regulation a…

The transatlantic relationship, increased defence spending, more equitable burden-sharing among allies and continued support for Ukraine were among the main topics at the NATO foreign ministers meeting that concluded in Helsingborg, Sweden, today. Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir, Minister for Foreign Affairs, participated in the meeting on Iceland´s behalf. The foreign ministers discussed the follow-up to the decisions of the NATO Summit in The Hague last summer on significantly increased defenc…

Recognizing the security challenges and economic opportunities in the Arctic and the High North, the Arctic Allies met to discuss our efforts to build a secure and prosperous region. The Arctic is quickly becoming a sphere of increasing geopolitical strategic importance. With Russia´s increased military activity and China´s growing strategic interest, we seek to bolster stability in the Arctic region. We are enhancing our military presence, surveillance capabilities, and joint training in the …

The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Nordic-Baltic countries firmly reject Russia’s blatant disinformation campaign and false claims, supported by Belarus, following the airspace violations in the Nordic-Baltic region. We strongly condemn Russia’s threats of the use of force directed at Latvia and other countries in the region. Incidents involving drones entering NATO airspace are a direct consequence of Russia’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine. The Nordic-Baltic countries have never a…

1. Today in Oslo, the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, the Acting Prime Minister of Denmark, Ms. Mette Frederiksen, the Prime Minister of Norway, Mr. Jonas Gahr Støre, the Prime Minister of Finland, Mr. Petteri Orpo, the Prime Minister of Iceland Ms. Kristrún Mjöll Frostadóttir, and the Prime Minister of Sweden, Mr. Ulf Kristersson, held the 3rd India-Nordic Summit hosted by the Norwegian Prime Minister. This Summit builds upon the previous two Summits held in Copenhagen in 2022 and …

Today the Republic of Iceland issued a new €500 million 5 year benchmark bond, equivalent to ISK 72bn. The transaction was issued at a spread of 34-basis points to the Euro 5-year mid-swap rate. The proceeds will be used to strengthen the Central Bank of Iceland’s international reserves and refinance the outstanding Eurobond maturing in June. The issue reflects the new strategy of the Government’s Medium-Term Debt Management Policy, which aims to issue annually in the international markets. Inv…

The deadline for the third edition of the Vigdís Prize for Women's Empowerment nominations is27 March 2026. Launched in 2023 and named after Vigdís Finnbogadóttir, the first woman in the world to be elected as a Head of State, this annual Prize consists of a sum of 60,000 euros and a trophy. It rewards outstanding individuals, organisations or initiatives that have demonstrated significant commitment to empowering women and girls in all their diversity.At a time when women’s rights and gender e…

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Thorgerdur Katrín Gunnarsdóttir, was a keynote speaker at a side-event that was held in Geneva on 24 February to mark four years since Russia´s unprovoked and illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Earlier, the Minister had put emphasis on Ukraine in heraddressto the 61st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council which began in Geneva Monday.Iceland is an elected memberof the Council 2025-2027. Iceland along with Norway and the Ukranian Permanent Mission …

Gen Michael Claesson, Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces, visited Iceland this week on the occasion that a Swedish fighter detachment is currently deployed in Iceland for a NATO Air Policing Mission for the first time. The General visited his compatriots in the security area at Keflavík Air Base where he also familiarized himself with the conditions, activities and cooperation between the Icelandic Coast Guard and NATO. He then met with Jónas G. Allansson, Director General of the De…

Policy and action against organised crime. This policy discusses the priorities and actions the government considers necessary to combat organised crime in Iceland. The policy is intended to set out a clear vision for the future and ensure that the authorities have the tools necessary to combat organised crime. It seeks to create a framework for the police and other authorities in their work to curb and investigate organised crime in this country. Safer Iceland - Policy and Actions against Orga…

Fitch Ratings has upgraded Iceland’s Long-Term Foreign-Currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) to ‘A+’ from ‘A’. The Outlook is Stable. Fitch Ratings has subsequently withdrawn all ratings. The upgrade reflects Iceland’s strengthened public finances and projected path of declining general government debt, underpinned by a strong political commitment to fiscal prudence and a return towards balanced budgets. Improving fiscal metrics and fiscal space were the key rating drivers. Prudent fiscal polic…

The Republic of Iceland has solicited credit ratings from three credit rating agencies: Fitch Ratings, Moody’s Ratings and S&P Global Ratings. In the autumn of 2025, following an RfP process, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs has decided to reduce the number of solicited credit ratings from three to two. Contracts on solicited credit ratings will be continued with Moody‘s Ratings and S&P Global Ratings.

We the Foreign Ministers of Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, Norway, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom strongly condemn the demolitions by the Israeli authorities of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) headquarters in East Jerusalem, on 20 January 2026. This unprecedented act against a United Nations agency by a UN Member State marks the latest unacceptable move to undermine their ability to operate. We urge t…

On 26 January 2026, Iceland and 13 other European countries published a letter to the International Maritime Community on the safety and security risks caused by Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) interference. The joint letter notes the risks to maritime safety and security caused by interference with satellite navigation systems, i.e. GNSS interference, and highlights the obligations of vessels and flag states under international treaties. The signatories of the letter include the coa…

The Foreign Ministers of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden, the Nordic Baltic 8, deplore Russia’s continued attacks on Ukrainian cities, residential areas and critical infrastructure. Despite international efforts to put an end to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and to pave the way for just and lasting peace, Russia has intensified its attacks against Ukraine’s capital Kyiv as well as Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, Odesa and many other cities. A…

The United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva today condemned the authorities in Iran for their recent crackdown on protesters in a resolution passed during a Special Session on the deteriorating human rights situation in Iran. Iceland led the call for a Special Session and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Thorgerdur Katrin Gunnarsdottir, addressed the session today. “We must stand firmly with the people of Iran,” said minister Gunnarsdóttir in her address, asking for a strong outcome in the v…

The Permanent Secretary of State, Martin Eyjólfsson, this week undertook a visit to Washington D.C. for discussions about the bilateral relationship between Iceland and the United States. Trade and tariffs and the two countries‘ cooperation in the field of security and defense were high on the agenda, as were international affairs, including the topic of Greenland and the Arctic and the transatlantic relationship.

A Swedish fighter detachment will arrive in Iceland in the beginning of February for a NATO Air Policing Mission. The detachment consists of six JAS Gripen fighter jets and up to 110 personnel. "I welcome the arrival of the Swedish fighter detachment. The participation of Sweden in the Icelandic Air Policing Mission demonstrates how Sweden's entry into NATO strengthens and deepens our defence cooperation and contributes to our security," says Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir, Iceland's Minister f…

The United Nations Human Rights Council will convene a Special Session on Friday 23 January at 14:00 to address an unprecedented escalation of violence, arbitrary arrests and mass unlawful killings of protesters in Iran. Iceland leads the call for a Special Session through a joint request by the core group of countries in the Human Rights Council made up of the Federal Republic of Germany, Iceland, North-Macedonia, the Republic of Moldova and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ire…

As Nordic countries, Arctic States and NATO allies we are collectively committed to preserving security, stability and co-operation in the Arctic. We have all taken steps to increase deterrence and defence in the region, including through new capabilities, activities, presence and increased situational awareness. We support NATO increasing its presence and vigilance in the region. We have substantially increased our investments in Arctic security and we are ready to do even more in close consult…

We, the Foreign Ministers of Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Japan, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom express serious concerns about the renewed deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Gaza which remains catastrophic. As winter draws in, civilians in Gaza are facing appalling conditions with heavy rainfall and temperatures dropping. 1.3 million people still require urgent shelter support. More than half of health facilities are only partially functional and fac…

The Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs has published its Medium-Term Debt Management Strategy (MTDS) for 2026–2030. The MTDS describes arrangements for Treasury debt financing over the period and sets forth targets and criteria for the implementation of debt management. The Strategy creates a framework for decisions on Treasury borrowing and debt administration. Its key objective is to ensure that the Government's financing needs and payment obligations are met at the lowest possible cost…

We, States of Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom condemn the approval by the Israeli security cabinet of 19 new settlements in the occupied West Bank. We recall that such unilateral actions, as part of a wider intensification of the settlement policies in the West Bank, not only violate international law but also risk fueling instability. They risk undermining the implementation of the C…

Yesterday, Iceland deposited its instrument of ratification of the BBNJ Agreement with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, in time for its upcoming entry into force on 17 January 2026. The Agreement, concluded under the purview of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, establishes a forum for States and other stakeholders to work together to attain the objective of conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction. „As …