Ávarp utanríkisráðherra á málþingi í Tókýó háskóla í Japan 19. febrúar 2026

Keynote speech by H.E. Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iceland, at a symposium at the University of Tokyo titled "Japan–Iceland Cooperation on Economic Security: Bridging the Arctic and the Indo-Pacific" on 19 February 2026.

Distinguished professors, students, colleagues, and friends, 

it is a true honour to stand here at the University of Tokyo. This institution has shaped generations of leaders and scholars and continues to provide a forum for rigorous debate about the pressing challenges of our time. 

My theme today is Japan–Iceland cooperation on economic security: bridging the Arctic and the Indo-Pacific. It may seem surprising that two countries on opposite sides of the globe would have such a close dialogue. Yet in our world today, where distance is shrinking and interdependence is growing, Iceland and Japan find themselves connected more closely than ever before. 

I come here not only as Minister for Foreign Affairs, but as a representative of a small nation that understands deeply how much our prosperity depends on openness, trust, and international cooperation. 

But you may ask, why now? 

The timing of my visit is significant, Iceland and Japan are celebrating 70 years of diplomatic relations, and not so long ago the world gathered in Osaka for Expo 2025, where Iceland participated in a joint Nordic Pavilion. The Expo was an important platform for the Nordics and Japan to showcase our shared values of peace, sustainability, and innovation. This was symbolised by the attendance of the President of Iceland at the Iceland Day at the Expo back in May last year. 

But our partnership is not new. Japan is one of Iceland’s most important trading partners in Asia. For decades, Icelandic seafood companies have supplied high-quality fish stocks to Japan, mostly species not found in your waters. This long-standing trade is more than economic; it is a matter of trust, reliability, and a shared appreciation for food culture. 

In recent years, our cooperation has expanded. Energy, tourism, scientific research, and cultural exchanges are now pillars of our relationship. The Embassy of Iceland in Tokyo, together with Business Iceland work every day to deepen these links. 

In times of turbulence – with conflicts in Europe, instability in supply chains, and increasing global competition – trusted partnerships like the one between Iceland and Japan gain even greater importance. 

The world is becoming more turbulent than in the past decades. 

From Reykjavík, the world looks both vast and small. Iceland is a country of only 400,000 people, a little more than the population of Shinjuku in Tokyo. Yet we are highly globalised. We are an export driven economy. Our ships sail across the world’s oceans. Our economy is tied to global markets for energy, tourism, and technology. 

This means that disruptions anywhere – whether in the Red Sea, the Taiwan Strait, or the Black Sea – quickly reach us. For Iceland, economic security is not an abstract term. It is about safeguarding the ability of small, open economies to withstand shocks, maintain access to essential goods, and ensure prosperity for our people. 

Japan knows this well. You are one of the world’s great trading nations, dependent on stable sea lanes, diversified supply, and predictable rules. Here, our interests align perfectly. We both need resilient supply chains. We both need multilateral institutions that function. And we both rely on partners who share our values and respect the rule of law. 

This is why it makes sense to speak about bridging the Arctic and the Indo-Pacific. Both regions are critical to the future of economic security. And both are now increasingly connected. 

Allow me to speak for a moment about the Arctic. 

The Arctic is no longer a remote frontier. Climate change is reshaping it at unprecedented speed. Melting sea ice is opening new shipping routes. Retreating glaciers are exposing resources. And warmer oceans are altering fish stocks. 

At the same time, geopolitical tensions have entered the region. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has had a profound impact on Arctic governance. While cooperation in the Arctic Council is continuing in limited form, the level of trust has diminished. Militarisation in the High North is increasing. Other powers have declared their interest in the Arctic. 

It is essential to uphold territorial integrity, sovereignty, and respect for international law. I would like to note that it is for the people of Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark to decide on matters concerning their future. For us, the Arctic is not only a strategic space; it is our home. Our largest fishing grounds, our shipping routes, and our environment are bound up in it. We therefore have a strong interest in keeping the Arctic predictable and secure. 

Here, Japan plays a vital role. As an observer in the Arctic Council and a leader in polar research, Japan has been an invaluable partner. Our cooperation with Japanese institutions – from the Ocean Policy Research Institute to scientific exchanges on fisheries and climate – helps strengthen the foundations of knowledge that Arctic policy must rest upon. 

Dear friends,

Let me step back and share a broader perspective on Iceland’s own economic story, because it offers insights relevant to our discussion of resilience. 

For most of the 20th century, Iceland’s economy depended almost entirely on fisheries. Cod, haddock, herring; these were the backbone of our society. When fish stocks collapsed, we suffered. When they recovered, we prospered. We learned, sometimes the hard way, that natural resources must be managed sustainably. Today, Iceland operates one of the most advanced fisheries management systems in the world, based on science, quotas, and enforcement. 

But we also learned the risks of over-dependence. Over the past three decades, Iceland has diversified. Tourism has grown dramatically, bringing in millions of visitors who want to experience our landscapes, culture, and geothermal hot springs. The energy sector has evolved, making Iceland a pioneer in geothermal and hydropower. More recently, data centres and creative industries have emerged as new pillars. 

This transformation shows that small economies can reinvent themselves – if they are willing to innovate, to invest in education, and to open themselves to international partnerships. 

Among these pillars, energy is perhaps the most relevant for our dialogue with Japan. 

I know it is a bit of a cliché, but Iceland is sometimes called the “land of fire and ice”. Beneath our feet lies enormous geothermal potential. We began harnessing it in the mid-20th century, first for district heating and later for electricity generation. Today, almost 100% of Iceland’s electricity comes from renewable sources, mainly hydropower and geothermal. In addition to that we enjoy heating from geothermal sources in our homes and offices. 

This achievement has not only reduced emissions. It has also given Iceland energy security. Our households and industries are insulated from volatile fossil fuel markets. Energy has become a competitive advantage for Icelandic companies, from aluminium smelters to greenhouses to data centres. 

Japan, with its volcanic landscape, has similar potential from my point of view. Yet geothermal accounts for only a small share of your energy mix. The challenges are well known; regulatory hurdles, social acceptance, and high upfront investment costs. 

This is why cooperation matters. Icelandic companies, scientists, and policymakers have been working with Japanese partners for years. Icelandic deep drilling has also inspired research here. Japanese investors are exploring opportunities in Iceland. But more can be done. 

For the sake of climate security, energy security, and economic security, geothermal must move from potential to practice. Iceland is ready to share experience – not as a model to be copied, but as a partner in innovation. 

Energy and climate bring us to another shared reality: natural hazards. 

Iceland lives with volcanoes and earthquakes. Over the past few years, we have experienced repeated eruptions on the Reykjanes Peninsula. An entire town has been evacuated. Homes have been destroyed. Infrastructure has been threatened. And yet, Iceland continues to function. Planes continue to land. Tourists continue to arrive. 

The reason is resilience. We have invested in monitoring, science, and preparedness. We communicate transparently with the public. And we have learned to adapt our tourism industry to changing conditions. 

Japan, of course, knows these challenges intimately. Recently, your government released a new AI simulation of a possible eruption of Mt. Fuji, as part of Volcano Disaster Prevention Week. This reflects the same principle we hold dear in Iceland: preparedness saves lives. 

Here lies another area of cooperation between us. Iceland’s experience with Eyjafjallajökull in 2010, which disrupted global aviation, and more recent eruptions near Grindavík, can offer lessons. Japan’s long history of disaster management, evacuation systems, and community resilience can likewise teach us. Together, we can strengthen global understanding of how societies live with nature’s power. 

Let me return to the broader canvas of cooperation, focusing on trade, innovation, and people-to-people links. 

Trade remains a cornerstone in our relations. Icelandic seafood is prized in Japan for its quality, sustainability, and reliability. Japanese markets, in turn, provide opportunities for Icelandic innovation. Whether it is advanced materials, health technologies, or digital solutions, Icelandic companies are keen to partner with Japanese firms. 

Innovation is increasingly important. Iceland’s small size forces us to think creatively. Japan’s scale and sophistication create opportunities for collaboration. Together, we can drive advances in renewable energy, marine research, digitalisation, and health sciences. 

Equally important are the human connections. More Japanese tourists are visiting Iceland every year. Icelandic students are studying Japanese language and culture. Cultural events, from music festivals to art exhibitions, bring our societies closer. 

These personal links are the foundation of everything else. Agreements and trade flows matter, but ultimately it is trust, curiosity, and friendship that sustain partnerships. 

Ladies and gentlemen, 

Economic security today cannot be achieved in isolation. It requires trust, resilience, and cooperation across borders and oceans. We need to continue building bridges across oceans. 

Iceland and Japan may be far apart geographically, but we are close in spirit. We are both island nations. We are both democracies committed to openness and international law. We are both societies that live with the forces of nature, and that see opportunity in innovation. We also see the opportunities in creating gender equal societies. In Icelandic politics there is broad consensus on gender equality, and it is noteworthy that the current government coalition is lead by three women. Gender equality is indeed good business for the whole society.

Dear friends,

By bridging the Arctic and the Indo-Pacific, we can contribute to a more secure, sustainable, and prosperous world. This is not only in our national interest; it is in the global interest. 

I thank you for your attention, and I look forward to exploring these issues further in the panel discussion to follow.