Iceland–Norway relations

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Icelandic–Norwegian relations
Iceland Norway Locator.svg
Flag of Iceland.svg
Iceland
Flag of Norway.svg
Norway
Embassy of Iceland in Oslo Stortingsgata 30 - 2009-06-20 at 16-39-58.jpg
Embassy of Iceland in Oslo
Embassy of Norway in Reykjavik Embassy of Norway in Reykjavik.jpg
Embassy of Norway in Reykjavík

Iceland–Norway relations (Icelandic : Íslensk-norsk samskipti, Norwegian : Islandsk-norske forhold) are foreign relations between Iceland and Norway. Iceland has an embassy in Oslo and Norway has an embassy in Reykjavík.

Contents

Both countries are full members of Council of Europe, Nordic Council, NATO, Council of the Baltic Sea States, and the European Free Trade Association.

Early history

Iceland was settled in medieval times, mainly by Norwegians accompanied by Celtic slaves. Ingólfr Arnarson the first settler arrived in 874 with most settlers coming between 880 and 910~. [1] Iceland and Norway formed a common Norse cultural area in the North Sea, and much of Norway's history was chronicled by Icelandic writer Snorri Sturluson. [2] Iceland was brought under Norwegian rule around 1262. This lasted until the formation of the Kalmar Union in 1380, [1] which united the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway (with Iceland, Greenland, Faroe Islands, Shetland and Orkney), and Sweden (including some of Finland) under a single monarch. The Kalmar union broke apart when the Lutheran Reformation became predominant, a union of the three Swedish crowns split apart from the Danish crown that continued to rule Norway, and Iceland, having hegemony over the North Sea. Norway gained independence from the so-called union, to some degree in 1814, whereas Iceland remained a colony until 1944. Greenland is still a Danish possession.

Economy and production

Whaling

The two countries share a common history with regard to whaling and have often joined forces with Japan to resist international calls to reduce commercial whaling. Both countries have resisted signing the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species that bans the trade in whale meat. The High North Alliance, which represents whalers, sealers and fishermen around the Arctic said "It's a legal import and a legal export, and in future might give access to a market that's really big for both Norwegian and Icelandic whalers". [3]

In 1992, Iceland and Norway jointly announced they would recommence commercial whaling on certain species after a 6-year moratorium. [4]

In 2002, Norway announced that it would allow a whaling company to export 10 to 15 tonnes of minke whale products to Iceland. This was condemned by the British Government as it was claimed the whale stocks they come from are on an international endangered species list. [5] In 2006, the Icelandic fisheries ministry announced that it would authorise commercial whaling again, making it only the second country after Norway to hunt whales for commercial reasons. [6]

Economic assistance

In connection with the 2008–2012 Icelandic financial crisis, the Norwegian government provided Iceland with a €500 million 5-year loan [7] to stabilise the Icelandic króna in November 2008. The Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said after meeting Icelandic Prime Minister Geir Haarde that "We want to show our support for the international initiative and we will be providing support to Iceland in the near future." [8]

Foreign policy and defence

On April 24th, 2007, the two countries signed a defence agreement, covering surveillance and military defense of Icelandic air space and economic zone. It means that Norwegian jet fighters and surveillance aircraft will be patrolling Icelandic air space. It is underlined that the agreement with Norway only covers peace time. In case of a military conflict it is still NATO and the United States Government that will carry the main responsibility for Iceland's defence. [9] The agreement was signed following the decision to withdraw the US military from the Keflavík naval air base in 2006. [10]

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whaling</span> Hunting of whales

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Iceland took control of its foreign affairs in 1918 when it became a sovereign country, the Kingdom of Iceland, in a personal union with the King of Denmark. As a fully independent state, Iceland could have joined the League of Nations in 1920, but chose not to do so for cost reasons. It negotiated with Denmark to initially carry out most of its foreign relations, while maintaining full control. Denmark appointed a diplomatic envoy (Ambassador) to Iceland in 1919 and Iceland reciprocated in 1920, opening an embassy in Copenhagen. Iceland established its own Foreign Service in April 1940 when Denmark became occupied by Nazi Germany and ties between the two countries were severed. The Republic of Iceland was founded in 1944. The Icelandic foreign service grew slowly in the post-WWII period, but increased rapidly after the mid-1990s. Iceland's closest relations are with the Nordic states, the European Union and the United States. Iceland has been a member of the United Nations since 1946. Iceland was a founding member of the World Bank in 1946 and NATO in 1949. In terms of European integration, Iceland was a founding member of the OEEC in 1948 and the Nordic Council in 1952, it joined EFTA in 1970, was a founding member of the CSCE in 1973 and the EEA in 1992 and joined Schengen in 1996.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whaling in Iceland</span>

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Events in the year 1814 in Norway.

Events in the year 1905 in Norway.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anti-whaling</span>

Anti-whaling refers to actions taken by those who seek to end whaling in various forms, whether locally or globally in the pursuit of marine conservation. Such activism is often a response to specific conflicts with pro-whaling countries and organizations that practice commercial whaling and/or research whaling, as well as with indigenous groups engaged in subsistence whaling. Some anti-whaling factions have received criticism and legal action for extreme methods including violent direct action. The term anti-whaling may also be used to describe beliefs and activities related to these actions.

Events in the year 1739 in Norway.

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References

  1. 1 2 Norseng, Per G.; Julsrud, Ottar (2007). "Island – historie". In Henriksen, Petter (ed.). Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 17 June 2009.
  2. Wærdahl, Randi. "Snorre Sturlason". In Helle, Knut (ed.). Norsk biografisk leksikon (in Norwegian). Oslo: Kunnskapsforlaget. Retrieved 17 June 2009.
  3. Black, Richard (18 November 2008). "Japan approves whalemeat import". BBC News. Retrieved 15 June 2009.
  4. "Norway, Iceland to break moratorium on whaling". Toledo Blade. 30 June 1992. Retrieved 15 June 2009.
  5. "UK condemns Norway's plans to trade whale products with Iceland". M2 Presswire. 3 July 2002. Retrieved 15 June 2009.
  6. "Iceland resumes commercial whaling". Nature . 23 October 2006. Retrieved 29 April 2019.
  7. "Norway offers 500m euro loan to Iceland". In the News.co.uk. 3 November 2008. Retrieved 15 June 2009.[ dead link ]
  8. "Norway Formin says govt will offer loan to Iceland". Forbes . Reuters. 3 November 2008. Archived from the original on 19 May 2010. Retrieved 15 June 2009.
  9. "Norway, Iceland to sign defense agreement". People's Daily Online. Xinhua. 25 April 2007. Retrieved 15 June 2009.
  10. "Norway, Iceland to boost defence cooperation". Reuters. 24 April 2007. Archived from the original on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 15 June 2009.