At a Crossroads: Iceland in the International System

09:30 – 09:40 | Welcome
Sabina Westerholm, Director of the Nordic House

Pia Hansson, Director of the Institute of International Affairs at the University of Iceland

09:40 – 10:20 | Security at a Turning Point: Europe, NATO and the Geopolitical Shift (In English)

Boris Ruge, Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs and Security Policy, NATO and Hermann Örn Ingólfsson, Deputy Director General, Directorate for International Affairs and Policy, Ministry for Foreign Affairs

Moderator Elín Margrét Böðvarsdóttir, Specialist at the Directorate for Defense, Ministry for Foreign Affairs

10:20 – 11:10 | Iceland at a Crossroads: Trust, Power, and Security Choices (In Icelandic)

Dagur B. Eggertsson, Member of Parliament for the Social Democratic Alliance and former Mayor of Reykjavík, Jón Ólafsson, Professor at the Faculty of Icelandic and Comparative Cultural Studies at the University of Iceland, Sesselja Sigurðardóttir, Director General, Directorate for Legal and Executive Affairs at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Svanhildur Þorvaldsdóttir, Associate Professor, Faculty of Political Science and University of Þórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörð Gylfadóttir, Member of Parliament for the Independence Party and Special Envoy of Council of Europe Secretary General on the situation of children of Ukraine

Moderator: Pia Hansson, Director of the Institute of International Affairs at the University of Iceland

11:10 – 11:25 | Coffee Break

11:25 – 12:15 | Societal security and preparedness – a Nordic outlook (In English)

Speaker: Linus Owman, Project Leader, Societal Security and Resilience, Nordic Council of Ministers

Panel: Hinrika Sandra Ingimundardóttir, Project Manager, Directorate for Defense, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Pétur Krogh Ólafsson, Head of Sustainability and Infrastructure Security at Veitur, Árni Þór Sigurðsson, Chairman of the Grindavik Executive Committee, and Linus Owman, Project Leader, Societal Security and Resilience, Nordic Council of Ministers

Moderator: Sóley Kaldal, International Security and Safety Specialist at Landsbankinn

12:15 – 12:45 | Light Lunch

12:45 – 13:15 | Address on Iceland's Foreign Policy (In Icelandic)

Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir, Minister for Foreign Affairs

13:15 – 13:30 | Coffee Break

13:30 – 14:20 | Reconsidering EU Engagement: Strategic Choices for Iceland (In Icelandic)

Gunnar Þór Pétursson, Dean and Professor of Law at Reykjavik University, Vilborg Ása Guðjónsdóttir, Scholar of International Politics, and Brynjólfur Gauti Guðrúnar Jónsson, PhD student of Mathematics at the Univeristy of Iceland

Moderator: Ingólfur Bjarni Sigfússon, Correspondent at RÚV

14:20 – 14:40 | Coffee Break

14:40 – 15:30 | AI, Disinformation, and Cross-Border Crime: Strengthening Nordic Responses (In Icelandic)

Speaker: Flemming Splidsboel Hansen, Senior researcher at the Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS)

Panel: Hafsteinn Einarsson, Associate Professor in Computer Science, University of Iceland, Katrín Sif Oddgeirsdóttir, Specialist at the Analytical Department of the National Police, Lára Herborg Ólafsdóttir, Attorney at LEX Lögmannsstofa and Leading Expert in IT Law, Magni Reynir Sigurðsson, Director at CERT-IS, María Rún Bjarnadóttir, specialist in technology law at Reykjavík University

Moderator: Davíð Logi Sigurðsson, Director at the Directorate for International Affairs and Policy, Ministry for Foreign Affairs

15:30 – 15:50 | Coffee Break

15:50 – 16:50 | Where to and Why? Iceland’s Role in the International System - Representatives of Political Parties Discuss Iceland's Foreign Policy (in Icelandic)

Panel: Dagbjört Hákonardóttir, Member of Parliament for the Social Democratic Alliance, Pawel Bartoszek, Member of Parliament for the Liberal Reform Party, Sigurður Helgi Pálmason, Member of Parliament for the People's Party, Sigurður Ingi Jóhannsson, Member of Parliament for the Progressive Party, Sigríður Á. Andersen, Member of Parliament for the Centre Party and Þórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörð Gylfadóttir, Member of Parliament for the Independence Party.

Moderators:
Bogi Ágústsson, News Reporter
Ólafur Þ. Harðarson, Professor Emeritus in Political Science at the University of Iceland

16:50 – 17:00 | Closing remarks (In Icelandic)

Guðni Th. Jóhannesson, Chair of the Board of the Institute of International Affairs at the University of Iceland, Professor of History and former President of Iceland 2026-2024

17:00 – 18:30 | Reception and Stand-Up Performance by Birna Rún Eiríksdóttir

Security at a Turning Point: Europe, NATO and the Geopolitical Shift

At a time of profound geopolitical uncertainty, this opening session will explore the evolving landscape of security and defence policy in the Euro-Atlantic area. The discussion will examine the strategic outlook for regional security, the future of collective defence, and the broader political dynamics shaping the Alliance’s agenda. The session will also highlight the role of smaller Allies, with a focused reflection on how Iceland can most effectively contribute to shared security in the years ahead, through political engagement, strategic positioning, and support to collective defence efforts.

Iceland at a Crossroads: Trust, Power, and Security Choices

The rules‑based international order is under increasing pressure, with longstanding alliances tested by Russia’s continued war in Ukraine and wider geopolitical instability, including the ongoing conflict involving Iran that is reshaping global defense priorities. Multilateral institutions and norms are being challenged, and trust within the transatlantic relationship can no longer be taken for granted, especially as allies debate burden‑sharing, strategic objectives, and responses to multiple concurrent crises. This panel will examine Iceland’s reliance on alliances and multilateral frameworks in an era of heightened uncertainty, exploring how shifts in U.S. foreign policy expectations, internal European debates, and rising political polarization influence its broader security planning and ability to contribute to a rules-based, cooperative international system.

Spotlight Session: Strengthening Societal Resilience in Iceland and the Nordic Region

In an era marked by accelerating geopolitical uncertainty, shifting security landscapes, and frequent natural hazards, strengthening societal resilience has become a defining challenge for the Nordic region. This session explores how Iceland and the wider Nordic community can work together to safeguard critical infrastructure, ensure continuity of essential services, and enhance preparedness for both foreseeable and unexpected disruptions.

AI, Disinformation, and Cross-Border Crime: Strengthening Nordic Responses

Online crime is rapidly evolving into a form of hybrid threat, borderless, networked, and increasingly driven by advances in AI. Alongside cybercrime, the rise of disinformation and foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI) is blurring the lines between criminal activity, information warfare, and national security. AI-powered tools are accelerating the scale and sophistication of these challenges.

This panel will explore how Nordic countries can strengthen collaboration to address cross-border digital threats. With actors, data, and influence operations spanning jurisdictions, coordinated approaches to intelligence sharing, digital security, and resilience are essential along with closer alignment with EU and international partners.