The meeting was the substantive outcome of Anand’s announced Iceland visit. The ministers also discussed Russia’s war in Ukraine and the Middle East.
Canada’s Foreign Minister Anita Anand, photographed in 2021. Photo: Joey Coleman / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0).
Reykjavík Talks Set New Canada-Iceland Priorities
The ministers backed stronger NATO readiness in the Arctic and North Atlantic.
They intend to update the countries’ bilateral free-trade agreement.
The governments will strengthen a network promoting geothermal expertise.
Security, Trade and Geothermal Cooperation Lead the Agenda
The ministers stressed stronger NATO preparedness in the Arctic and North Atlantic. Their talks followed an updated bilateral security agreement and broader regional security cooperation involving Iceland.
The governments also intend to modernise their bilateral free-trade agreement. No timetable or text was announced, so the statement begins further work rather than completing a trade accord.
A third priority is sharing geothermal knowledge and developing green-energy solutions, complementing Iceland’s Arctic and northern partnership agenda.
Anand is due to meet Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir and visit the security area at Keflavík on Friday.
Source: Government of Iceland.