Icelanders Vote to Reject Restarting European Union Membership Negotiations

Prime Minister Kristrun Frostadóttir pushed for the referendum, framing membership as a shield against trade wars and US tariffs. She argued that joining the union would insulate Iceland's economy from trade coercion. However, opposition leader Gudrun Hafsteinsdottir led the "no" campaign, arguing that the economic benefits were overstated and that Icelandic politicians must solve domestic problems rather than relying on Brussels. A primary concern for the "no" side was the preservation of control over Iceland's rich fishing waters. While the government argued that Iceland would retain control because no EU country has fished there for decades, Gudrun Hafsteinsdottir disputed that the flexibility would be permanent. hought<channel|>```json, {