PM Bjarni Benediktsson discussed trade, security, NATO cooperation, and support for Ukraine during a call with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday. Trump expressed interest in Iceland’s history and culture while emphasising Iceland’s appeal to American tourists.
“Good relations”
As noted on the government’s website yesterday, Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson held a phone meeting Tuesday with Donald Trump, the President-elect of the United States. During the phone call, the two men discussed “the good relations between their countries” alongside trade, security, and defence cooperation.
“The conversation also covered the importance of NATO for security and defence readiness in the North Atlantic, as well as the air policing conducted by the U.S. and other NATO allies in close collaboration with Icelandic authorities in the surrounding maritime region,” the press release notes.
Ukraine
Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson emphasised the need for “continued robust support for Ukraine” and “the pursuit of all avenues to secure lasting peace.”
The two leaders likely hold differing views on the Russian invasion.
In a speech in North Carolina in September, Trump suggested that Ukraine should have made concessions to Russian President Vladimir Putin in the months leading up to Russia’s February 2022 invasion, stating that “even the worst deal would’ve been better than what we have now.”
As a vocal critic of U.S. aid to Ukraine, Trump has often asserted that Russia would not have invaded Ukraine under his presidency and that he would swiftly end the conflict if reelected.
Bjarni Benediktsson meanwhile has consistently advocated for strong support for Ukraine in response to Russia’s invasion.
“Single most significant” trading partner
Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson ahighlighted the importance of deepening trade relations between the two nations, noting that the United States is Iceland’s single most significant trading partner for exports.
American tourists also represent the largest group of tourists in Iceland, and the President-elect frequently mentioned the country’s appeal to Americans in this regard.
“Warm regards”
As noted on the government’s website, Donald Trump “showed enthusiasm for Icelandic history and culture” and asked the Prime Minister to “extend his warm regards to the Icelandic people.”
“Additionally, the Prime Minister referenced international meetings hosted in Iceland over the years, including recent global events and historical gatherings such as the 1986 Höfði Summit [a movie about the famous meeting is in the works]. Both leaders agreed that Iceland remains an excellent venue for such meetings,” the press release notes.
Donald Trump is set to assume office as the 47th President of the United States on January 20.
