Trump's Greenland threats cast a shadow on Iceland's vote on whether to trigger EU membership talks

Iceland's referendum on starting accession talks with the European Union (EU) made progress on Sunday, August 30, according to broadcaster RUV. Out of 270,000 eligible voters, 152,000 ballots were counted, with 50.1% voting against the government's proposal to resume negotiations and 49.9% in favor. No information on turnout was provided.

The referendum was held amidst US President Donald Trump's threats to control nearby Greenland, casting a shadow over the vote. If voters reject the proposal, it would be final for at least a generation. Iceland's partial vote count shows that the "no" camp is ahead. A "yes" vote would trigger a negotiating process with the EU's executive branch, the European Commission, covering 35 areas such as the economy and human rights, including Iceland's fishing stocks in the North Atlantic, which is of particular importance.