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Report by panel of parliamentarians outlines key elements of a defence and security policy

Government of Iceland

15 September 2025
Ministry for Foreign Affairs

A consultative panel of parliamentarians representing five of the six political parties in Alþingi has submitted a report to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, outlining key elements that a national defence and security policy for Iceland should be based on. Foreign Minister Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir will in the coming weeks submit a draft resolution on a defence and security policy to Parliament.

In March, the Minister for Foreign Affairs presented a proposal to the government on the formulation of a defence and security policy for Iceland. As part of that process, the Minister requested nominations from all political parties in Parliament for a consultative panel that was tasked with discussing the main elements of the policy.

The following Members of Parliament were appointed to the panel: Dagur B. Eggertsson of the Social Democratic Alliance, Ingibjörg Davíðsdóttir of the Centre Party, Pawel Bartoszek of the Liberal Reform Party, Sigurður Helgi Pálmason of the People's Party, Sigurður Ingi Jóhannsson of the Progressive Party, and Þórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörð Gylfadóttir of the Independence Party. The panel commenced its work in early April and was chaired by Aðalsteinn Leifsson, Political Advisor to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. In July, the representative of the Centre Party stepped down from the panel.

In its report, the parliamentary panel describes external threats faced by Iceland, highlights Iceland's objectives in defence and security cooperation, discusses necessary defence preparedness and capabilities, and points out gaps and weaknesses in the legal and institutional framework.

The report states that Iceland faces growing external security challenges that require a resolute response. Credible defences that safeguard the independence of Iceland and the sovereignty of the Icelandic people are the principal objectives guiding the defence policy.

As a state without armed forces, Iceland relies on cooperation with allies for deterrence and defence against potential military threats. The two main pillars of Iceland's defence cooperation continue to be membership of NATO and the bilateral defence agreement with the United States. In addition, Iceland has in recent years increased its participation in other bilateral and regional cooperation on security and defence, which serves to strengthen and support the core pillars.

Iceland contributes in various ways to collective security and defence, including by operating air defence and surveillance systems as part of NATO's integrated Air and Missile Defence, by providing host nation support and infrastructure for Allied air policing, by hosting defence exercises and contributing civilian personnel to NATO structures. In addition to increasing participation in defence cooperation, Iceland must continue to build domestic capability, improve defence-related infrastructure, and strengthen preparedness. Ongoing efforts to strengthen civilian resilience, in line with NATO's Baseline Requirements, must also continue. All aspects of the defence policy should aim to reinforce Iceland's contribution to NATO.

Over the last decade, Iceland has been steadily increasing defence-related spending, but the panel underlines that rapid changes in the security environment and rising NATO commitments call for further increases in contributions, domestic capacity-building and improvements to the legal and institutional framework. Expenditures must reflect Iceland's commitments as a NATO Ally, enable the implementation of the defence and preparedness plans, strengthen domestic readiness and support resilience.