The foreign ministers of Canada and Iceland met in Reykjavík on Thursday and said they would deepen cooperation on Arctic security, defence and trade, according to a joint statement released by Global Affairs Canada.
Anita Anand and Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir described the two countries as NATO allies whose cooperation rests on shared values, support for multilateralism and international law, and longstanding ties between their populations. Their talks covered Arctic affairs, security and defence, geopolitical priorities, and trade, investment and innovation.
As Arctic states, the ministers said they support a stronger NATO presence and posture in the Arctic and the North Atlantic. They welcomed closer security and defence cooperation under an updated memorandum of understanding signed earlier this year, and pointed to the co-location of Canadian and Icelandic diplomatic offices in Nuuk, Greenland, as a practical example of coordination.
Canada-Iceland Joint Statement
To read the joint statement: https://t.co/Do6J232qsk pic.twitter.com/ArH0wzeh3M
— Foreign Policy CAN (@CanadaFP) October 8, 2026
On Ukraine, they restated solidarity with the country and its people, support for its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity within internationally recognized borders, and a commitment to backing its resilience. The statement did not specify new military or financial measures.
On Arctic development, the ministers said economic opportunities in the region should be expanded and that Indigenous peoples and youth should take an active part in Arctic affairs. They also restated support for gender equality and for the full, equal and meaningful participation of women and girls in leadership and decision-making.
On the economic side, they said they want closer links among industry, academia and government, and welcomed talks on modernizing the free-trade agreement between Canada and the EFTA states, which include Iceland. They agreed to set up an embassy-led Canada-Iceland geothermal network bringing together the private sector, Indigenous partners and government bodies, including for work in northern and remote communities, aimed at green energy and clean technology.
The statement closed by describing the partnership as strong and directed at practical cooperation for a secure, prosperous and resilient Arctic and North Atlantic. It did not announce new spending figures or binding defence commitments beyond the existing memorandum and the NATO posture both ministers endorsed.