The European Union’s new deal with Iceland focuses on maritime security, cybersecurity, and the protection of critical infrastructure, reflecting Europe’s efforts to strengthen resilience in an era of evolving threats and weakening international norms.
The EU and Iceland signed a new Security and Defence Partnership designed to deepen cooperation in cybersecurity, infrastructure protection, and crisis response. The agreement was signed on Wednesday on behalf of the EU by High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas, while Iceland was represented by Foreign Minister Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir.
The EU-Iceland Security and Defence Partnership strengthens the close cooperation between the two, contributing to their shared security and prosperity. It should provide a framework for collaboration on regional security, support to Ukraine, Arctic and maritime issues, cyber threats, emerging technologies, economic security, and the climate-security nexus.
A signal of unity in uncertain times
The partnership is supported by dialogue and consultation mechanisms, including an annual Security and Defence Dialogue, reinforcing the already deep relations underpinned by the European Economic Area Agreement.
“This will deepen our cooperation in areas that matter for the safety of our citizens, from maritime security to the protection of critical infrastructure,” Ms Kallas posted on the social media platform X. The day before, she had already warned MEPs that Europe faces an “erosion of international law” and must respond by strengthening partnerships.
You might be interested
Iceland joins nine other countries that have already signed this partnership with the EU — India, Canada, the United Kingdom, Albania, North Macedonia, South Korea, Japan, Norway, and Moldova. The North Atlantic island is also among the countries with a long-standing interest in closer ties with the Union.
Reykjavík plans a referendum in August 2026 on reopening accession talks with the EU. Negotiations were frozen in 2013 and formally withdrawn two years later. The reasons were disputes over fishing policy and concerns about the loss of national sovereignty. A successful economic recovery had also reduced the immediate need for eurozone stability.
What the agreement entails
The new partnership does not constitute a military alliance, nor does it undermine ties within NATO, of which Iceland is a member. Its significance is primarily political: it confirms that even long-standing allies wish to anchor their relationships more firmly within European rules.
This is precisely what Ms Kallas stressed prior to the signing. At a time when international norms are weakening and geopolitics is returning to the fore, she argued, small democratic states continue to seek support in the EU’s legal and institutional frameworks.
In practice, the agreement opens the door for Iceland to participate more deeply in EU cooperation across several key areas, including cybersecurity, combating hybrid threats, and protecting critical infrastructure such as undersea cables and energy networks.
Europe expands its network
It also includes participation in European projects on defence and technology, as well as coordination in crisis management. Iceland can thus take part in EU missions or joint security initiatives. Equally important is the institutional dimension: the agreement more firmly anchors Reykjavík in EU decision-making in areas such as maritime surveillance and hybrid threat responses.
The partnership with Iceland fits into the EU’s broader strategy of building a global network of security ties. It is a response to growing instability and the reality that security today is not solely a matter of armies, but also of economics, technology, and rules.
While NATO remains central to collective defence, the EU is positioning itself as an actor offering tools such as sanctions, industrial policy, and the ability to set standards. According to Ms Kallas, linking these instruments with formal security agreements strengthens the credibility of the entire system.
