At a Crossroads: Iceland in the International System

09:30 – 09:40 Welcome

Pia Hansson, Director of the Institute of International Affairs at University of Iceland
Sabina Westerholm, Director of the Nordic House

09:40 – 10:20 Security at a Turning Point: Europe, NATO and the Geopolitical Shift

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

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 – 11:30 Coffee Break

11:30 – 12:20 Spotlight Session: Strengthening Resilience in Iceland and the Nordic Region

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

Societal security and preparedness – a Nordic outlook

In an era of geopolitical shifts and fragmenting alliances, what role could the Nordic Council of Ministers play to enhance an integrated, competitive, sustainable and resilient Nordic region?

Panel: Hinrika Sandra Ingimundardóttir, Project Manager, Directorate for Defense, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Pétur Krogh Ólafsson, Head of Sustainability and Infrastructure Security at Veitur, and Linus Owman,

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

12:20 -13:00 Light Lunch

13:00 – 13:40 At a Crossroads: Iceland in the International System

Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir, Minister for Foreign Affairs

Q and A

13:40 – 14:20 Reconsidering EU Engagement: Strategic Choices for Iceland

Gunnar Þór Pétursson, Dean and Professor of Law at Reykjavik University, and Vilborg Ása Guðjónsdóttir, scholar of international politics,

14:20– 14:40 Coffee Break

14:40 – 15:30 AI, Disinformation, and Cross-Border Crime: Strengthening Nordic Responses

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

Panel: Katrín Sif Oddgeirsdóttir, specialist at the Analytical Department of the National Police og Flemming Splidsboel Hansen

15:30 – 15:50 Coffee Break

15:50 – 16:50 Hvert stefnum við? Fulltrúar stjórnmálaflokka ræða utanríkisstefnu Íslands

16:50 – 17:00 Closing remarks

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

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.