'Brexit moment' feared in Iceland's looming EU vote

Iceland may face a "Brexit moment" in its looming European Union referendum amid concerns about misinformation, foreign interference and AI, the country's foreign minister says.

The northern European island nation will hold a referendum on whether to continue EU accession talks on Aug 29, and developments are being watched closely in Washington, Moscow and Brussels.

Speaking to The Guardian, Foreign Minister Thorgerdur Katrin Gunnarsdottir accused domestic and foreign actors of "fearmongering", saying Iceland was being hit with misinformation and rhetoric "from the playbook of Nigel Farage and Reform", referring to the United Kingdom's far-right party Reform UK and its leader.

The minister warned that the referendum risks becoming a target of foreign interference and that misinformation could shape the result.

"I am fearing that we will face a Brexit moment," she said. "That would be ... a rather dangerous path because … there were all kinds of lies put forward by the Brexiteers."

Thorgerdur pointed to disputed figures used by the UK's Leave campaign about how much money the country sent to the EU.

She said Brexit "should be an example of how not to run a campaign" rather than something to replicate. "Nothing of what they promised has actually been activated or realized," she added.

In March, Iceland's coalition government unexpectedly brought the EU referendum forward from 2027, citing heightened external pressures from the United States and strategic concerns over its closest neighbor, Greenland, following US threats to forcibly acquire the Danish territory.

"The international order that underpinned our security and prosperity for decades is under serious pressure," Thorgerdur said. "The world has changed so decisively ... so Greenland has of course affected, or had influence on, our decision."

She warned that trade is being used as a political weapon. "You do not treat a friend and an ally like Greenland and Denmark like the US did in the beginning of this year."

Yet, Iceland's ties with the US remain strong, she said.

"Iceland being a member of the EU is not contradicting all the good relationship with the US. One thing does not exclude the other thing," she added.

Icelanders will not decide on EU membership itself in the August vote, but on whether the government should resume accession talks.