Iceland PM backs Arctic defence focus after Greenland remarks

Icelandic Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir said she agreed with US General Alexus Grynkewich that President Donald Trump’s comments about Greenland had encouraged discussion about the importance of defence in the Arctic, mbl.is reported.

Frostadóttir spoke to reporters after meeting Grynkewich, who commands US forces in Europe and is also NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe.

“There has certainly been some development, and sometimes there are comments continuing on the political stage, but we have always had an extremely strong relationship at all levels with the US government and the US military. That relationship may even have grown stronger in recent months and years,” she said.

Frostadóttir said Iceland’s strong relationship with the US government and military was clearly the most important issue for Icelanders.

Grynkewich said the United States was a NATO member and that the alliance’s countries stood together. He said Trump had appointed him to lead US forces in Europe and, as NATO’s senior military commander, he would carry out his duties diligently and defend every inch of the alliance’s territory while serving in the role.

He also said the United States had not paid enough attention to the Arctic and welcomed the increased discussion about the importance of defence in the region.

In a July episode of the podcast Rest Is Politics, hosted by Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart, Frostadóttir described Trump’s statements about the United States acquiring Greenland as a “huge problem” that worried Icelanders. She also said it was a good time for Iceland to join the European Union.

mbl.is noted that Frostadóttir’s comments differed somewhat from her earlier remarks, although whether her view had changed or she had chosen milder words in the presence of NATO’s top military commander was left open.