Home · Politics · Aug 30 archive
Iceland votes on resuming EU membership talks as Trump's push for neighboring Greenland looms over debate
Developing
Icelanders voted Saturday on whether to reopen negotiations to join the European Union, with President Donald Trump 's push for U.S. control of neighboring Greenland adding a new security dimension to a debate that has divided the NATO ally for years.
Iceland, strategically positioned in the North Atlantic and roughly 180 miles from Greenland, has no military of its own and relies on NATO and a longstanding defense agreement with the United States for its security, according to RTE and The Associated Press.
Trump's repeated interest in acquiring Greenland has unsettled some Icelanders and raised questions about whether closer ties with the EU could provide another layer of security for the island nation, the AP reported. If the referendum passes, Iceland would resume negotiations with the EU, followed by another referendum on actual membership, RTE reported.
Trump has also mistakenly referred to Iceland while discussing Greenland on multiple occasions, according to the AP. She said the campaign had "lifted discussions about the EU, about Iceland's place in the world, about our general geopolitical situation and status, to a higher level.
What's confirmed
What's still developing
- Icelanders voted Saturday on whether to reopen negotiations to join the European Union, with President Donald Trump 's push for U.S. control of neighboring Greenland adding a new security dimension to a debate that…
- Iceland, strategically positioned in the North Atlantic and roughly 180 miles from Greenland, has no military of its own and relies on NATO and a longstanding defense agreement with the United States for its…
- Trump's repeated interest in acquiring Greenland has unsettled some Icelanders and raised questions about whether closer ties with the EU could provide another layer of security for the island nation, the AP reported.
- If the referendum passes, Iceland would resume negotiations with the EU, followed by another referendum on actual membership, RTE reported.
- She said the campaign had "lifted discussions about the EU, about Iceland's place in the world, about our general geopolitical situation and status, to a higher level.
- Trump has also mistakenly referred to Iceland while discussing Greenland on multiple occasions, according to the AP.
Sources
- Fox Newslink