Icelanders vote in referendum on whether to resume EU membership talks

Icelandic citizens are voting in a referendum to decide whether to resume talks with the European Union after a decade-long pause. This comes just days after threats from US President Donald Trump to seize Greenland. Voting began at 9am local time and will end at 10pm, with early results expected before midnight. Recent polls show the "No" side leading, with 51.6% of the vote, while the "Yes" side holds 51.3%.

The referendum is about whether Iceland should reinitiate accession talks that were abruptly halted in 2015 by a former Eurosceptic coalition government. The Yes campaign argues that Iceland has stronger leverage now to negotiate terms that would protect its fishing industry, while the No side contends that Iceland's existing NATO membership and participation in the EU's single market make a renegotiation unnecessary.

Former Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir has voiced her support for the No campaign, emphasizing Iceland's need to maintain its sovereignty and avoid transferring additional power to the EU. Foreign Minister Thorgerdur Gunnarsdottir, however, argues that the international order is under severe pressure and that small nations must carefully consider their position in the global landscape.

The referendum's outcome could potentially lead to new accession talks starting as early as 2026, with a lengthy negotiation period of 18 to 24 months following a favorable vote.