Sweden’s Foreign Minister Carl Bildt visited Iceland earlier this week to discuss future developments in the Arctic with his Icelandic counterpart Össur Skarphéðinsson.
Left to right: Carl Bildt and Össur Skarphéðinsson. Photo courtesy of the Icelandic Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
The ministers discussed the need for Arctic nations to prepare for increased activities and global interest in the region, noting that the increasing number of applications for observer status at the Arctic Council signifies its strength and importance.
Both ministers gave keynote speeches at the opening of the Challenges of Development, Security and Cooperation in the Arctic conference in Reykjavík earlier this week.
The issue of Iceland’s application for membership of the EU was also discussed among the ministers with Bildt reiterating his support for Iceland’s application.
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