Foreign relations of Iceland

Iceland
This article is part of a series on the politics and government of Iceland
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Institutions Executive President Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson Prime Minister Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson Cabinet Legislative Alþing (Althing, Parliament) Umboðsmaður Alþingis (ombudsman) Landsdómur (impeachment court) Judicial Supreme Court
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Iceland's closest relations are with Norway and other Nordic states, Canada and the United States. Iceland also hosted the historic 1986 Reagan-Gorbachev summit in Reykjavík, which set the stage for the end of the Cold War.

Iceland's principal historical international disputes involved disagreements over fishing rights. Conflict with the United Kingdom led to the so-called Cod Wars in 1952–56 because of the extension of the fishing zone from 3 to 4 nautical miles (6 to 7 km), 1958–61 because of extending the fishing zone to 12 nautical miles (22 km) in 1972–73 because of its further extension to 50 nautical miles (93 km) and in 1975–76 because of its extension to 200 nautical miles (370 km). Disagreements with Norway and Russia over fishing rights in the Barents Sea were successfully resolved in 2000. Certain environmentalists are concerned that Iceland left the International Whaling Commission (IWC) in June 1992 in protest of an IWC decision to refuse to lift the ban on whaling, after the IWC Scientific Committee had determined that the taking of certain species could safely be resumed. That year, Iceland established a separate commission – along with Norway, Greenland and the Faroe Islands – for the conservation, management, and study of marine mammals. Since then, Iceland has resumed whaling for scientific purpose and has rejoined the IWC (in October 2002).

The Icelandic Fisheries Ministry issued a permit to hunt 39 whales for commercial purposes on 17 October 2006.^[1] 25 states delivered a formal diplomatic protest to the Icelandic government on 1 November concerning resumed commercial whaling. The protest was led by the United Kingdom and supported by others such as Finland and Sweden.^[2]

Iceland was the first country to recognise the regained independence of Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan from the USSR in 1990–1991. Similarly, it was the first country to recognise Montenegro's independence from its former union with Serbia.^[3] Iceland was also the first country to recognise Croatia, having done so on 19 December 1991.^[4] Significantly, Iceland was also the first Western state to recognise Palestine when it did so in 2011. Iceland also is the greatest Nordic contributor per capita to NATO-led troops in Bosnia and Kosovo, to the police in Bosnia and to Bosniab/Kosovan reconstruction, resettlement and relief efforts.

Through the various international organisations in which it participates, Iceland has also increased its involvement in Third World affairs, focusing on development assistance and trade.

Membership in international organisations

Iceland is a member of the following organisations: North Atlantic Treaty Organisation; Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe; Western European Union (associate member); International Criminal Court; International Bank for Reconstruction and Development; International Development Association; International Finance Corporation; Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development; European Economic Area; European Free Trade Association; Council of Europe; International Criminal Police Organization; and the United Nations, since 19 November 1946, and most of its specialized agencies, including the International Monetary Fund, World Trade Organization, Food and Agricultural Organization, International Atomic Energy Agency, International Civil Aviation Organization, International Labour Organization, International Maritime Organization, International Telecommunication Union, United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, Universal Postal Union, World Health Organization, World Meteorological Organization and the International Whaling Commission. The Icelandic government currently finances two Programs of the United Nations University that are located in Iceland: the Geothermal Training Programme since 1979 and the Fisheries Training Programme since 1998.

International disputes

Rockall

Iceland has an ongoing dispute with Denmark (on behalf of the Faroe Islands) on the one hand and with the UK and Ireland on the other hand, concerning claims to the continental shelf in the Hatton–Rockall area of the North Atlantic under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982).^[5] Iceland's claim covers virtually the entire area claimed by the other three countries, except for a small portion in the south-east corner of the Irish claim,^[6] while the Faroes claim most of the area claimed by the UK and Ireland.^[7] Negotiations continue between the four countries in the hope of making a joint proposal to the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf by May 2009.

Deposit insurance

Following the collapse of Icesave sparking the 2008–2012 Icelandic financial crisis, the U.K. and the Netherlands offered to insure the deposits of the bank's customers. They then sought repayment from Iceland, which held a referendum on the issue in 2010 and 2011, both of which failed. The two governments then said they would take the issue to European courts to seek redress they alleged is owed to them. In January 2013 the EFTA court cleared Iceland of all charges.

European Union application

Iceland's reluctance to join the EU's Common Fisheries Policy is a major stumbling bloc to accession

Iceland has had a close relationship with the European Union (EU) throughout its development, but has remained outside (instead, joining the European Free Trade Area or EFTA). In 1972, the two sides signed a free trade agreement and in 1994 Iceland joined the European Economic Area which let itself and other non-EU states have access to the EU's internal market in exchange for Iceland contributing funds and applying EU law in relevant areas. The EU is Iceland's most important trading partner with a strong trade surplus in 2008/9 in terms of goods, services and foreign direct investment. Iceland also participates in the Schengen Area (as well as relevant police and judicial cooperation) and has non-voting representation in some EU agencies.^[8][9]

However after Iceland's financial crash in 2008, it has sought membership of the EU and the euro. Iceland applied on 16 July 2009 and negotiations formally began 17 June 2011.^[10] After an agreement is concluded, the accession treaty must be ratified by every EU state and be subject to a national referendum in Iceland.^[11] Since the application was submitted, popular support has declined and contentious issues around Icelandic fisheries may derail negotiations. However the Icelandic government is confident an agreement can be reached based on the flexibility shown by the EU in its previous negotiations with Norway.^[12]

Agreed Minute

The Agreed Minute was a statute governing the nature of the U.S. military presence in Iceland. The Agreed Minute was last renegotiated in 2001. At the time, the U.S. Air Force committed itself to maintaining four to six interceptors at the Keflavík base, supported by a helicopter rescue squad. The Air Force, in order to cut costs, announced plans to remove the four remaining jets in 2003. The removal was then delayed to address Icelandic demands for continued presence of the jets. After an unfruitful series of negotiations and two reshuffles of the Icelandic government the issue lay dormant until early 2006 when the U.S. Air Force issued an official statement that withdrawal of the aircraft was already being prepared. U.S. officials have since then argued that Iceland is in no need of a military presence.

NATO allies since then conduct air policing after the U.S. Air Force withdrawal.

Europe

Country	Formal Relations Began	Notes
Albania		Iceland is represented in Albania through its embassy in Stockholm and an honorary consulate in Tirana.[13]
Austria	1928	Austria is represented in Iceland through its embassy in Copenhagen and an honorary consulate in Reykjavík. Iceland has an embassy in Vienna.[14] Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: list of bilateral treaties with Iceland (in German only)
Belarus		Iceland is represented in Belarus through its embassy in Moscow and an honorary consulate in Minsk.
Belgium		Belgium is represented in Iceland through its embassy in Oslo and an honorary consulate in Reykjavík.[15] Iceland has an embassy in Brussels.[16]
Bulgaria		Iceland is represented in Bulgaria through its embassy in Copenhagen and an honorary consulate in Sofia.
Czech Republic	1993-01-01	See Czech Republic–Iceland relations The Czech Republic is represented in Iceland through an honorary consulate in Reykjavík. Iceland is represented in the Czech Republic through its embassy in Vienna (Austria) and through an honorary consulate in Prague.
Denmark	1918	See Denmark–Iceland relations Iceland was a part of the Kingdom of Denmark from 1814 to 1918 and a separate kingdom in a personal union with Denmark until 1944, when Iceland declared independence. Denmark has an embassy in Reykjavík.[17] Iceland has an embassy in Copenhagen and consulates-general in the Danish territories of Nuuk, Greenland and in Tórshavn, Faroe Islands.[18]
Estonia		See Foreign relations of Estonia Iceland is represented in Estonia through its embassy in Helsinki and an honorary consulate in Tallinn. Iceland was the first country to recognize Estonia's independence in 1991.
Finland		See Finland–Iceland relations Finland has an embassy in Reykjavík.[19] Iceland has an embassy in Helsinki.[20]
France		See Foreign relations of France France has an embassy in Reykjavík.[21] Iceland has an embassy in Paris.[22]
Germany		See Foreign relations of Germany Iceland has an embassy in Berlin.[23] Germany has an embassy in Reykjavík.[24] Both countries are NATO members.
Greece		See Greek–Icelandic relations Greece is represented in Iceland through its embassy in Oslo (Norway) and through an honorary consulate in Reykjavík. Iceland is represented in Greece through its embassy in Oslo (Norway) and through an honorary consulate in Athens.
Ireland		Iceland is represented in Ireland through its embassy in London (United Kingdom) and through an honorary consulate in Dublin.[25] Ireland is represented in Iceland through its embassy in Copenhagen (Denmark) and through an honorary consulate in Garðabær.[26] Both countries are full members of Council of Europe.
Italy	1945	Iceland is represented in Italy through its embassy in Paris.[27] Italy is represented in Iceland through its embassy in Oslo (Norway) and an honorary consulate in Reykjavík.[28] Both countries are full members of the Council of Europe, of NATO and of Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Latvia	1991-08-22	See Iceland–Latvia relations Iceland was the first country to recognise the independence of Latvia in August 1991. Iceland is represented in Latvia through its embassy in Helsinki (Finland). Latvia is represented in Iceland through its embassy in Oslo (Norway) and an honorary consulate in Reykjavík.
Lithuania	1991-08-05	Iceland was the first country to recognise the independence of Lithuania in February 1991.[29] Iceland is represented in Lithuania through its embassy in Helsinki (Finland).[30] Lithuania is represented in Iceland through its embassy in Copenhagen (Denmark ) and 2 honorary consulates (in Mosfellsbær and Reykjavík).[31] Both countries are full members of the Council of the Baltic Sea States, of NATO, and of the Council of Europe. There are around 1,300 Lithuanians living in Iceland. Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: list of bilateral treaties with Iceland (in Lithuanian only)
Norway		See Iceland–Norway relations Iceland has an embassy in Oslo.[32] Norway has an embassy in Reykjavík.[33]
Romania		Iceland is represented in Romania through its embassy in Copenhagen and an honorary consulate in Bucharest.
Russia		See Iceland–Russia relations Iceland has an embassy in Moscow.[34] Russia has an embassy in Reykjavík.[35] Both countries have close ties in financing, which has strengthened the relations between the two.[36] Iceland also called Russia as its "new friend" after having been turned down by its traditional allies for an emergency loan to boost the balance sheet of its second largest commercial bank.[37]
Sweden		The governments of Iceland and Sweden signed on 23 March 1921 a joint declaration for the protection of trade marks.[38] Iceland has an embassy in Stockholm.[39] Sweden has an embassy in Reykjavík.[40]
Ukraine	1992	Iceland is represented in Ukraine through its embassy in Helsinki (Finland).[41] Ukraine is represented in Iceland through its embassy in Helsinki (Finland) and through an honorary consulate in Reykjavík.[42] Both countries are full members of the Council of Europe.
United Kingdom		See Iceland–United Kingdom relations Iceland has an embassy in London.[43] United Kingdom has an embassy in Reykjavík.[44]

Rest of world

Country	Formal Relations Began	Notes
Canada	1947	See Canada–Iceland relations Canada has an embassy in Reykjavik.[45] Iceland has an embassy in Ottawa and a consulate-general in Winnipeg.[46]
Hong Kong		Iceland is represented through its honorary consulate within Hong Kong. The honorary consulate also is delegated to Macao.[47]
India		See Iceland–India relations Historically, Indo-Icelandic bilateral relations have been friendly but lacked substantive content.[48]
Japan	1956	Both countries find common interest on the matter of whaling. Iceland has an embassy in Tokyo and 3 honorary consulates in Kyoto, Nagano-shi, Tokyo.[49] Japan has an embassy in Reykjavík. Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs about relations with Iceland
Mexico	24 March 1964	See Iceland–Mexico relations Iceland is accredited to Mexico from its embassy in Washington D.C., United States.[50] Mexico is accredited to Iceland from its embassy in Copenhagen, Denmark.[51]
New Zealand		Iceland is accredited to New Zealand from its embassy in Beijing and has 2 honorary consulates in New Zealand at Auckland and Nelson.[52] New Zealand does not have an embassy in Iceland nor are any of its embassys accredited to Iceland.
People's Republic of China		See People's Republic of China – Iceland relations In May 1972, China assigned the first resident ambassador to Iceland. In January 1995, Iceland set up its embassy in Beijing and assigned its first resident ambassador to China. In December 1995, China resumed the practice of sending resident ambassadors to Iceland (between 1983 and 1995, the Chinese ambassador to Copenhagen, Denmark was also accredited to Iceland). In April 2013 Iceland entered into a free trade agreement with China.[53]
Palestine		See Iceland–Palestine relations On 29 November 2011, the parliament of Iceland passed a resolution that authorized the government to officially recognize the state of Palestine within the 1967 borders. As of 15 July 2013, Iceland is the first and only Western European country to recognise the independence of Palestine. Full diplomatic relations exist between the two states. Iceland's representative to Palestine is a non-resident based at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in Reykjavík,while Palestine's ambassador to Iceland is also a non-resident based in Oslo, Norway. [54]
Philippines	24 February 1999	Main article: Iceland–Philippines relations Iceland has its representation in the Philippines through its embassy in Tokyo, Japan, and the Philippines' ambassador in Oslo, Norway is also accredited to Iceland; although both countries established honorary consulates in Reykjavík[55] and Makati City, Metro Manila,[56] respectively.
South Korea		See Iceland-South Korea relations Iceland–South Korea relations are primarily based on cooperation over maritime issues, such as whaling and bottom trawling, and on bi-lateral trade in technology and fish products, although there are various other ways in which the two countries interact.
United States	17 June 1944	See Iceland–United States relations Iceland and the U.S. are NATO allies. The United States prides itself on being the first country to recognize the regained independence of Iceland. Iceland has an embassy in Washington, DC and a consulate-general in New York City.[50] United States has an embassy in Reykjavik.[57]

See also

• List of diplomatic missions in Iceland
• List of diplomatic missions of Iceland
• Ministry for Foreign Affairs (Iceland)

References

External links

• Icelandic Foreign Service Iceland's embassies and missions abroad
• Iceland's Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• European Commission > The EU's relations with Iceland
  • (Icelandic) The Icelandic European Movement (favours Icelandic EU membership)
  • (Icelandic) Heimssýn, the cross-political organisation of Icelandic eurosceptics

Foreign representations in Iceland

• Canadian Embassy in Iceland
• United States Embassy in Reykjavík

Foreign relations of Iceland Asia India Palestine Philippines South Korea Europe European Union Czech Republic Denmark Finland Greece Latvia Norway Russia United Kingdom North America Canada Mexico United States Missions Diplomatic missions of / in Iceland