Arctic Circle Arctic Boundary according to AMAP Arctic boundary according to AHDR

Arctic Circle

Arctic Boundary according to AMAP

Arctic boundary according to AHDR

Icelandic Arctic foreign policy developments early 21st C

US closes military bases, 2006 Economic crash, 2008Comprehensive, risk assessment, 2009Report: 'Iceland and the High North' , 2009 Resolution for an Icelandic Arctic policy, 2011

Resolution for an Icelandic Arctic policy 2011

1. Strengthening the Arctic Council


1. Strengthening the Arctic Council 2. Securing Iceland's position as a coastal state


1. Strengthening the Arctic Council 2. Securing Iceland's position as a coastal state3. Promoting extended Arctic region


1. Strengthening the Arctic Council 2. Securing Iceland's position as a coastal state3. Promoting extended Arctic region4. Resolving differences through UNCLOS


1. Strengthening the Arctic Council 2. Securing Iceland's position as a coastal state3. Promoting extended Arctic region4. Resolving differences through UNCLOS5. Strengthening West Nordic cooperation


1. Strengthening the Arctic Council 2. Securing Iceland's position as a coastal state3. Promoting extended Arctic region4. Resolving differences through UNCLOS5. Strengthening West Nordic cooperation6. Supporting the rights of indigenous peoples


7. Building on agreements and promoting cooperation with other States and stakeholders


7. Building on agreements and promoting cooperation with other States and stakeholders8. Mitigate human-induced climate change and its effects


7. Building on agreements and promoting cooperation with other States and stakeholders8. Mitigate human-induced climate change and its effects 9. Safeguarding security interests through civilian means and working against militarisation


7. Building on agreements and promoting cooperation with other States and stakeholders8. Mitigate human-induced climate change and its effects 9. Safeguarding security interests through civilian means and working against militarisation10. Developing trade relations between States


7. Building on agreements and promoting cooperation with other States and stakeholders8. Mitigate human-induced climate change and its effects 9. Safeguarding security interests through civilian means and working against militarisation10. Developing trade relations between States 11. Advancing knowledge of Arctic issues


7. Building on agreements and promoting cooperation with other States and stakeholders8. Mitigate human-induced climate change and its effects 9. Safeguarding security interests through civilian means and working against militarisation10. Developing trade relations between States 11. Advancing knowledge of Arctic issues 12. Increasing cooperation at the domestic level

Iceland as EU’s northernmost State?

EU Accession talks – Special Arctic reportMay 2013, Elections EU talks suspended indefinitely

Coalition platform of the Progressive Party and the

Independence Party

• Iceland should become a leading power in Arctic and West Nordic cooperation, and should act upon possible opportunities relating to oil and gas in the High North

Further developments

• European cooperation through the EEA and Schengen

• 2013 Report of Minister of Foreign Affairs to the Parliament.

• Icelandic consulate at Nuuk, Greenland• FM’s statement of interest to increase

cooperation with the Faroe Islands

Arctic issues in bilateral and multilateral relations

• NATO and other allies • Defence cooperation since 2006• UNCLOS• Arctic Council– PAME & CAFF working groups– SAR, 2011, and oil-spill response, 2013– Secretary-General (Magnús Jóhannesson) AC

permanent secretariat


• EU• ‘Northern Dimension’ programme with

Norway, Russia and all EU • Barents Euro-Arctic Council • Nordic Cooperation framework – Parliamentary Nordic Council - Nordic Council of

Ministers (NCM) – West Nordic sub-group


• NCM Stoltenberg report– Nordic security cooperation – Haga

• Mutual aid in civilian emergencies (‘Nordic solidarity clause’)

• West Nordic and Arctic joint risk analysis and response

West Nordic Council: Greenland, Iceland & the Faroe Islands

BRICs & Asia

Where next?

• Is Iceland ‘playing all sides’ to its detriment?• Is it dealing sufficiently ?– with climate change?– With military threats?– Militarization of the arctic– Wider security and safety

• Pros and cons of West Nordic & non-arctic cooperation

• Is the Small States approach too simplistic?

Documents

Arctic Circle Arctic Boundary according to AMAP Arctic boundary according to AHDR