News

Prime Minister hands in Government‘s resignation

Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson today met with President Halla Tómasdóttir to deliver his Government‘s resignation.

HRC57 - Joint statements supported by Iceland

Iceland hosts Arctic Allies

On 9 October, the Chiefs of Defence of Iceland, Canada, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Sweden and the United States met in Keflavík, Iceland, to discuss priorities and perspectives in relation to the security situation in the Arctic.

Iceland elected as member of United Nations Human Rights Council

Iceland was elected to the United Nations Human Rights Council today at the UN General Assembly in New York. Nineteen countries put forward their candidatures for eighteen available seats on the Council for a three-year term from 2025 to 2027. Iceland's candidature is supported by all Nordic States.

Joint statement following the Strategic Dialogue between Canada, Kingdom of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden

Joint Statement on the Situation in Venezuela

Global Partnership for Action on Gender-Based Online Harassment and Abuse calls for urgent action on countering gendered disinformation

The undersigned country members of the Global Partnership for Action on Gender-Based Online Harassment and Abuse (Global Partnership) call attention to the urgent need to counter the spread of gendered disinformation and address all forms of technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) against women in political and public life.

Pétur Ásgeirsson, sendiherra Íslands í Danmörku, afhendir trúnaðarbréf til Danakonungs

Pétur Ásgeirsson, afhenti Friðriki tíunda Danakonungi trúnaðarbréf sitt, þann 19. september og fór athöfnin fram í Amalíuborg.

Moody’s Ratings upgrades Iceland’s ratings to A1, changes outlook to stable

Moody’s Ratings (Moody's) has upgraded the local and foreign-currency long-term issuer ratings of the Government of Iceland to A1 from A2 and changed the outlook to stable from positive.

Nordic Chiefs of Defence sign the Nordic Defence Concept

Today marks a significant milestone in Nordic Defence Cooperation as we, the Chiefs of Defence of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden, proudly announce the signing of the Nordic Defence Concept.

Language Technology Programme for Iceland - 2024-2026

The Icelandic government’s previous Language Technology Programme, completed in 2023, provided an ambitious vision for the preservation of the Icelandic language and made Iceland and Icelandic better equipped than most other small linguistic areas to cope with rapid technological changes in artificial intelligence (AI) and language technology (LT).

US Deputy Secretary of State visits Iceland

Increased cooperation between the United States and Iceland, including in the fields of technology and innovation, were among the topics of discussion at a meeting between Minister for Foreign Affairs Þordís Kolbrún Reykfjörð Gylfadóttir and Kurt M. Campbell, Deputy Secretary of State of the United States, held at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in Reykjavík on Friday.…

Support for a robust economy and improved government finances

In the fiscal budget proposal for 2025, introduced today, emphasis is placed on the prioritization of government spending in favour of vulnerable groups within existing expenditure frames and on improving the Treasury performance with targeted consolidation in public sector activity.

Successful Northern Viking exercise comes to an end

Exercise Northern Viking 2024 came to an end this week, after eleven days of successful cooperation between Iceland and the United States, as well as seven other NATO Allies.

The Icelandic Approach: Preserving and Revitalizing Linguistic and Cultural Diversity in AI

Fitch Affirms Iceland at ‘A’; Outlook Stable

Fitch Ratings has affirmed Iceland’s Long-Term Foreign-Currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) at ‘A’ with a Stable Outlook.

Joint Nordic statement on the Norwegian representative office in the Palestinian territories

As Nordic countries, Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Sweden deeply regret Israel’s decision to no longer facilitate Norway’s representation to the Palestinian Authority (PA) and revoke the diplomatic status for Norwegian diplomats dealing with the PA.

Northern Viking 2024 exercises defence of Iceland

The Northern Viking 2024 defence exercise will take place in and around Iceland from 26 August to 3 September.

Joint Nordic statement on the Norwegian representative office in the Palestinian territories

Formal agreements with three parties on coordianation for the offering of the state's holdings in Islandsbanki

Earlier this summer, the State's Financial Management Authority, on behalf of the Ministry, advertised for coordinators for the offering of the state’s holdings in Íslandsbanki, targeting both domestic and international markets.

National Action Plan (NAP) on Antimicrobial Resistance 2025-2029

The Royal Air Force conducts air policing mission around Iceland

A British air squadron is expected to arrive in Iceland at the beginning of next week, marking the start of a NATO air surveillance mission in Iceland (ASIC IPPN). The squadron consists of four F-35 fighter jets and 180 personnel.

GRÓ Annual Report 2023 published

The year 2023 was an active year for GRÓ – Centre for Capacity Development, Sustainability and Societal Change, and the four training programmes on fisheries, gender equality, geothermal energy and land restoration. A total of 92 fellows graduated from the 5–6 month training programmes, five GRÓ scholarship recipients graduated with a Masters’ degree and one with a PhD.

Nordic statement calling for release of Palestinian clearance revenues and preservation of correspondent banking services between Israel and the West Bank

The Nordic countries are greatly concerned by the withholding of Palestinian clearance revenues which is exacerbating the strenuous fiscal situation of the Palestinian Authority.…

Further sell down of the state's holdings in Íslandsbanki

The Parliament of Iceland passed a law on June 23rd on the commencement of a sales process for the state's holdings in Íslandsbanki hf.

First sovereign gender bond issued by Iceland

The Republic of Iceland has issued a gender bond in the amount of 50 million Euros, the equivalent of ISK 7.5 billion. The bond bears a 3.4% fixed rate coupon and has a 3-year maturity

Report on Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Build-up in Iceland

Iceland increases contributions to UNRWA

Today, the Minister of Education and Children's Affairs, Ásmundur Einar Daðason attended on behalf of the Prime Minister of Iceland the Call for Action: Urgent Humanitarian Response conference in Jordan.

License Issued for the Hunting of Fin Whales

The Minister of Food, Agriculture, and Fisheries, Bjarkey Olsen Gunnarsdóttir, has issued a license to Hvalur hf. for the hunting of fin whales.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Össur donate prosthetics to Ukraine

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in cooperation with the Icelandic health technology company Össur, will be financing a pilot project on prosthetic solutions for twenty individuals receiving care at the rehabilitation hospital in Dnipro, located in eastern Ukraine.

The Joint Expeditionary Force Activity Nordic Warden

This week, the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) has begun a month-long series of protective military activities which sees multiple Maritime and Air units contributing to the security of Critical Undersea Infrastructure across Northern Europe.…

Joint statement of the Nordic-Ukrainian Summit in Stockholm

At the third Nordic-Ukrainian Summit in Stockholm on 31 May 2024, the Prime Ministers of Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Iceland and the Presidents of Ukraine and Finland issued the following statement:

Icelandic Minister of Finance opens for trading on the London Stock Exchange

Sigurður Ingi Jóhannsson, Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, opened for the day's trading on the London Stock Exchange. The Market opening follows the Treasury’s successful issuance of EUR 750 million green bonds in March. The bonds were issued of the Treasury's sustainable financing framework.

First White Paper on Matters of Immigrants – A Society for Everyone – Iceland’s future and policy on matters of immigrants

A draft policy (white paper) on matters of immigrants has been published on the government’s open consultation platform. Titled A Society for Everyone – Iceland’s future and policy on matters of immigrants, it is the country’s first such policy and marks a turning point in the area of matters of immigrants in Iceland.

Iceland announces new commitments to humanitarian efforts in Syria and neighboring countries

Iceland's contributions to humanitarian efforts in Syria and neighboring countries amount to ISK 820 million over the next three years. Foreign Minister Þórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörð Gylfadóttir announced this at the 2024 Brussels VIII Conference on 'Supporting the future of Syria and the region' held in Brussels this week.

IMF mission concludes Article IV Consultation with Iceland

Today the International Monetary Fund published its Staff Concluding Statement after consultations with the Icelandic Government and other stakeholders over the past two weeks.

Kosning utan kjörfundar í sendiráði Íslands í London

Utankjörfundaratkvæðagreiðsla vegna forsetakosninga þann 1. júní 2024 fer fram 2. maí til 31. maí. Í umdæmislöndum sendiráðs Íslands í London fer utankjörfundaratkvæðageiðsla fram í sendiráði Íslands í London og hjá kjörræðismönnum Íslands í Bretlandi, Írlandi og Möltu.

Utankjörfundaratkvæðagreiðsla vegna forsetakosninga 2024

Athygli er vakin á því að utankjörfundaratkvæðagreiðsla vegna forsetakosninga á Íslandi 1. júní 2024, hefst í sendiráði Íslands í Vín fimmtudaginn 3. maí og stendur til 31. maí 2024.

Forsetakosningar 2024

Sendiráðið í Kaupmannahöfn vekur athygli á eftirfarandi vegna utankjörfundaratkvæðagreiðslu í maímánuði.

Assessing Ways of Reducing the Rate of Deviations in the Hungting of Fin Whales

S&P Global Ratings affirms Iceland at 'A+/A-1'; Outlook Stable

S&P Global Ratings has affirmed 'A+/A-1' long- and short-term foreign and local currency sovereign credit ratings on Iceland. The outlooks on the long-term ratings are stable.

Nordic-Baltic statement on recent developments in Georgia

Utankjörfundaratkvæðagreiðsla hjá kjörræðismönnum

Árni Þór afhenti trúnaðarbréf í Tyrklandi

Þann 25. apríl afhenti Árni Þór Sigurðsson sendiherra, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan forseta Tyrklands, trúnaðarbréf sitt.

Language Technology Programme for Iceland 2024-2026

The Icelandic government’s previous Language Technology Programme, completed in 2023, provided an ambitious vision for the preservation of the Icelandic language and made Iceland and Icelandic better equipped than most other small linguistic areas to cope with rapid technological changes in artificial intelligence (AI) and language technology (LT).…

Iceland and Sweden‘s joint team participates in world’s largest cyber defence exercise

NATO’s cyber defence exercise Locked Shields 2024 has concluded with Iceland participating in a joint team with Sweden, the newest member of the Alliance. The exercise is organized and executed by NATOs Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence in Tallinn, of which Iceland is a member.

Long-term policy on Iceland's support for Ukraine approved in Alþingi

The proposed parliamentary resolution on Iceland's long-term support for Ukraine 2024-2028 put forward by the Minister of Foreign Affairs was approved by Alþingi today with overwhelming support.

Iceland signs new multi-year framework agreement with UNHCR

Martin Eyjólfsson, Permanent Secretary, and Filippo Grandi, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, signed a new multi-year framework agreement outlining Iceland’s continued flexible and predictable financial support to UNHCR.

New multi-year framework agreement with the World Food Programme

Matthías G. Pálsson, Permanent Representative of Iceland to International Organisations in Rome, and Cindy McCain, Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP), signed a new framework agreement outlining Iceland’s continued flexible and predictable financial support to WFP for the next five years.

Iceland pledges support to humanitarian efforts in Sudan

Iceland will provide 140 million ISK over the next two years in support of humanitarian relief efforts in Sudan. Martin Eyjólfsson, Permanent Secretary, announced this new pledge at an international humanitarian conference for Sudan and neighbouring countries in Paris yesterday, hosted by France, Germany and the European Commission.