00:00Iceland is warming to the idea of EU membership amidst the geopolitical tensions of late.
00:06A recent poll showing 45% support membership as Iceland's Prime Minister Frósta de Týr discusses the issue of an EU referendum slated for 2027 in an interview with Euronews.
00:20Her biggest concern is that the debate remains polarized as she seeks to have a balanced discussion about EU membership.
00:30The EU isn't a defense alliance in and of itself, even though it's building itself up.
00:35We should join the EU as part of a broader picture.
00:39I don't want to drive our EU accession talks based on fear.
00:43I don't want it based on this is the only possibility we have.
00:46This is the only way forward for Iceland.
00:48This is the only way to progress.
00:50I think that's going to lead to a polarizing debate.
00:53Iceland has important bilateral relations with the United States, but the Prime Minister remains firmly behind Europe, believing a stronger Europe means a stronger ally for the US.
01:04It's very important for us that any security engagement, any sort of change in that relationship doesn't mean that it's excluding the US, but that it's maybe changing the relationship between the two, because Iceland really thrives on that transatlantic unity being in place.
01:24In light of the 10% tariffs announced by Trump last week, Iceland has decided not to impose counter tariffs on the US, choosing to negotiate rather than escalate.
01:35We are not going to respond with our own tariffs.
01:42I mean, we believe in free trade.
01:43We're a small economy.
01:45Our strength in that sense is more how we negotiate our ways through those tariffs, but also how we engage with other countries.
01:55So we won't be engaging in counter tariffs.
01:59Watch the full interview on the Europe Conversation this weekend.
02:05Watch the full interview on the Europe Conversation this weekend.
