SEMINAR ON THE FORMATION OF AN ICELANDIC NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY

• Monday 16. January 2012

NEXUS, a research consortium on security and defence issues, is inviting to a seminar on the formation of an Icelandic
national security strategy. The seminar is organizsed in cooperation with the International Institute of the University
of Iceland, Bifröst University, The Northern Research Forum, NRF-UArctic Thematic Network on Geopolitics and
Security and the Nordic House.

In spite of the fact that Iceland gained independence several decades ago, a holistic national security strategy has
never existed. Defence and security matters have been implemented by an outside actor, i.e. the United States. With
the closure of the US military base in 2006 Icelanders now have the challenge of forming their own security strategy.
To address this changed situation the Althingi has passed a resolution asking the foreign minister to appoint a
committee whose task will be to form a national security strategy for Iceland.

The formation of a national security strategy calls for an open and constructive public discussion and the organizers
of the seminar hope to contribute positively to such discussion. The first half of the seminar will consist of inputs from
academics who are experts on different aspects of security. This part of the seminar will be conducted in English. In
the afternoon, representatives from political parties will engage in an interactive panel discussion about the topic and
this part of the seminar will be conducted in Icelandic.
The seminar will take place in the Nordic House in Reykjavík and will start at 9 am.