New US Ambassador to Iceland

Iceland's population reached 396,500 at the end of the second quarter of 2026, according to fresh figures from Statistics Iceland, which report an overall population increase of 1,450 people from the previous quarter.

The demographic breakdown shows that by the end of the quarter, the island was home to 203,080 men, 193,180 women, and 230 individuals identified as non-binary or other.

The growth was driven by both natural increase and net migration. A total of 1,130 children were born during the quarter, while 590 people died.

Total net migration reached 930 people, with more men emigrating than women during this period.

The Icelandic state was acquitted of the Icelandic tech company Vélfag's claim in the Supreme Court. The case of Ivan Nicolai Kaufmann, the company's majority owner, was dropped.

This according to Icelandic broadcaster RUV.

This is the first Icelandic company to be subject to trade sanctions in connection with Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Vélfag demanded that the Icelandic state reverse Arion Bank’s decision to freeze its assets. Last year, Vélfag became the first company to be subjected to economic sanctions due to alleged ties to the Russian shadow fleet. Vélfag has argued that the state, not the bank, should be the authority in this matter.

The ruling has not been published, and the reasoning is therefore unknown.

The Norwegian frigate KNM Fridtjof Nansen is participating in a historic exercise off the east coast of the United States.

The exercise, called FLEETEX 250, is a US-led exercise with 31 vessels from 17 different allies and partner nations, the Norwegian Armed Forces states in a press release.

FLEETEX 250 is part of the U.S. Navy's 250th anniversary celebrations, highlighting the importance of maritime cooperation and the enduring commitment between allies and partner nations.

The exercise includes coordinated maneuvers at sea, communications exercises and training in information sharing routines. The scenarios are designed to strengthen cohesion and ensure the force is able to operate effectively together across the Atlantic and in the Arctic.

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen (M) expects that there will be a solution before the end of the year, as a result of negotiations between the Danish-Greenlandic-American working group, which have been ongoing since January.

This is reported by the Danish newspaper Politiken, cited in, among other things, the Greenlandic Sermitsiaq.

Løkke Rasmussen estimates that there is a need for "a number of meetings", he tells Politiken.

Denmark, Greenland and the United States agreed in January to establish a working group to discuss the way forward.

Relations between Denmark and Greenland on the one hand, and the United States on the other, have been tense after US President Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed a desire to take over Greenland.

Norway is strengthening its presence in Greenland and will open a Consulate General in Nuuk to further develop cooperation with Greenland at a time when the Arctic is gaining increasing strategic importance.

That is stated in a press release.

"The High North remains Norway’s most important strategic priority, and the Arctic is becoming increasingly important for international politics and security. Greenland is a close partner for Norway, and a Consulate General in Nuuk will strengthen both political contact and cooperation on shared interests in the region," said Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.

"A Consulate General in Nuuk will give us closer contact with the Greenlandic authorities, the business community and civil society. It will strengthen cooperation in areas where Norway and Greenland already share strong interests, such as fisheries, maritime affairs and Indigenous peoples’ issues. It will also give us better opportunities to develop new areas of cooperation in the years ahead," said Norway’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide.

Norway has had an honorary consulate general in Nuuk since 1986.

On Friday 19 June, the Norwegian Coast Guard vessel KV Hopen will leave Bergen, Norway, to carry out Operation Arctic Cohesion 2026.

This is an extensive, international expedition that will strengthen cooperation between Arctic coast guards, the Norwegian Armed Forces states in a press release.

The voyage marks the start of a two-month expedition through the North Atlantic, during which Norway, together with partners in Iceland, the United States, Canada and Greenland, will carry out a number of activities, exercises and professional exchanges.

Operation Arctic Cohesion 2026 is a key part of the Arctic Coast Guard Forum (ACGF) collaboration, and will show how the coast guards in the Arctic cooperate in practice to safeguard safety, emergency preparedness and the environment in an increasingly active sea area.

"Security and emergency preparedness in the Arctic are created through practical cooperation. When coast guards from several nations train, sail and solve missions together, we strengthen our collective ability to ensure safety in some of the world's most demanding sea areas," says Deputy Commander of the Norwegian Coast Guard, Commander Ture Lehn.

On Thursday, the US nuclear-powered submarine USS Oregon will make a brief stop in Icelandic waters off Reykjanes to receive supplies and exchange crew members.

This is the ninth time a US submarine has made a service stop in Icelandic territorial waters since such visits were permitted by Iceland in 2023.

The USS Oregon is a Virginia-class attack submarine and does not carry nuclear weapons, according to the Icelandic government.

A report prepared for the Ministry of Finance on Iceland’s currency options has been published and discussed by the Central Bank governor, its lead author, and the Minister, reports RUV.

“The report authors’ assessment is that it would be a promising option for Iceland to adopt the euro if we choose to join the European Union,” says Daði Már Kristófersson, the Minister of Finance, about a report prepared for his ministry on Iceland’s options in currency matters.

Various politicians have argued agains the Euro-issue.

Icelanders will go to the polls on 29 August to vote on continuing accession talks with the European Union.

That is reported by Ruv.is.

Alþingi, the Icelandic Parliament, approved the foreign minister’s parliamentary resolution proposal by 34 votes to 8, last week, on Thursday afternoon.

The [directly translated, ed. note] question on the ballot paper will be: “Should Iceland begin again accession negotiations with the European Union?” reports RUV.

The foreign minister’s parliamentary resolution proposal, that a referendum be held on resuming EU accession talks, had to be approved by Thursday at the latest, in order for it to be possible to hold the vote on 29 August.

Eight US senators and their staff visited the Norwegian Arctic archipelago Svalbard last weekend. This is reported by Svalbardposten, among others.

Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen and Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski led the delegation, which was invited by UiT, the Arctic University of Norway.

"We are here with a bipartisan message about the importance of our allies, and Norway is obviously one of them. The challenges in the Arctic are enormous, the Arctic is an enormous region, and the United States cannot solve everything alone. It is important that we can work together with our allies to solve the challenges we have in the Arctic," Shaheen tells the newspaper.

According to Svalbardposten, the agenda included a presentation of Arctic climate research, as well as visits to Isfjord Radio and UNIS - the university centre in Svalbard.

"When we see the Arctic warming and new dangers emerging in the Arctic, it is very important for us to get a better understanding of what those challenges are and to ensure that we have a bipartisan understanding of what the United States can do," says Shaheen.

A new opinion poll from Iceland shows that more Icelanders oppose EU membership than are in favor, writes RUV Iceland.

According to the poll, 47% of the population is against Iceland joining the EU, while 40% are positive. Thirteen percent are undecided.

When only those who actually take a position are counted, 54% are against Iceland joining the EU, compared to 46% in favor, the survey suggests.

Support has fallen by four percentage points, from 44 percent in April last year, while opposition has increased by eleven points from 36 percent in the same period.

This year's physical edition of the Arctic Security Forces Roundtable (ASFR) was held in Iceland at the end of March.

The forum – co-chaired by Norway and the US European Command – brings together senior military leaders from the seven allied Arctic states, as well as from the observer states of France, the UK, Germany, and the Netherlands.

Also present were representatives of the US Northern Command and NATO JFC Norfolk, which has now been granted permanent observer status in ASFR.

The military leaders exchanged views on security challenges in the Arctic, with a focus on building shared situational awareness and coordinated approaches to deterrence and defense in the region. The NATO Arctic Sentry initiative was highlighted in this context.

They also visited Keflavík Air Station and gained insight into Iceland's defense-related roles and responsibilities. Last year's conference took place in Kirkenes, Northern Norway.

There are no signs that the eruption sequence on Sundhnúksgígaröð, on Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula, is coming to an end - despite the slow speed of magma accumulation, RUV reports.

Magma intrusions and eruptions remain the most likely scenario on the Reykjanes Peninsula, according to a statement from Veðurstofa Íslands (Icelandic Meteorological Office) issued alongside a new hazard assessment for the area, valid until June.

A number of people were unable to reach their destinations in Iceland due to severe weather and poor road conditions last night.

That is reported by RÙV.

It is estimated that about 350 people are in emergency shelters and a considerable number are staying elsewhere. Many roads are still impassable and an uncertainty level due to avalanche risk remains in effect.

The US hospital ship USNS Mercy has left the shipyard in Mobile, Alabama. On Wednesday morning, the tracking service MarineTraffic showed that the ship is in the Gulf of Mexico.

This happened shortly after Donald Trump stated that a hospital ship was heading to Greenland.

However, it is not known where the ship is going, but MarineTraffic states Mobile as its destination.

According to the shipping media outlet Maritime Executive, the ship is on its way to Portland, Oregon, and will take at least 20 days to transit the Panama Canal and up the west coast of the United States. They further state that the ship will undergo repairs in Oregon in March.

According to Danish TV2, this is the first time the vessel has left port since August 3rd last year.

According to a new survey, a majority of Icelanders describe the US as an adversary and not an ally, writes RÙV.

40% of respondents say they would describe the country as an adversary, 32% as an ally and 28% take no position or do not want to answer.

The younger people are, the more likely they are to regard the USA as an adversary. People living in the capital area are also more likely to see the USA this way than those in rural areas. Lower-income groups are slightly more likely than higher-income groups to regard the United States as an adversary, while higher earners are more likely to regard it as an ally.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) detected and tracked Russian aircrafts operating in the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone on February 19, the command informs in a press release.

The Russian aircrafts were two Tu-95s, two Su-35s, and one A-50.

NORAD launched two F-16s, two F-35s, one E-3, and four KC-135s to intercept, positively identify, and escort the aircraft until they departed the Alaskan ADIZ.

"The Russian military aircraft remained in international airspace and did not enter American or Canadian sovereign airspace. This Russian activity in the Alaskan ADIZ occurs regularly and is not seen as a threat," NORAD states in the press release.

Heavy storms in recent weeks have caused extensive soil erosion at Reynisfjara, one of Iceland's most famous tourist beaches. The sea has washed right up to the characteristic basalt columns, and large boulders are now scattered across the beach - rocks that were not there before.

Residents tell the Icelandic newspaper Visir that they have never seen such changes before. Experts believe that persistent easterly winds have moved large amounts of sand, and expect some of it to return. It is still uncertain whether Reynisfjara will regain its original shape.