Iceland and Norway Ponder EU Membership || Mar. 3, 2026
As Trump has been screaming into the void about acquiring Greenland, the wheels over in Iceland and Norway are starting to turn.
Both countries have much of what Donald Trump says he wants out of Greenland: Arctic access, deepwater ports, and mineral resources. And as the U.S. becomes more transactional and predatory, Norway and Greenland are now considering EU membership to add a bit more security.
EU membership would be costly and heavily regulated, but when the strategic calculus shifts as much as it has under Trump 2...moves like this need to be considered. This goes to show how much trust in U.S. leadership is fading (even amongst America's historically closest allies).
Comments (32)
Most of the European NATO countries pay far less for defense than the 3.5% that US pays. They have been freeloading on the US tax payers. Their defense freeloading props up their generous welfare programs. Trump's public confrontation will push the to actually pay more for defense and that is a good result.
I live in Norway, and membership in the EU isn't on the agenda. For now at least, none of the major parties here are pushing for it. Also, it has nothing to do with the cost. We pay more for our current treaty than we would if we were members.
The US has, since WWII, built an alliance, and strong relationships, with like-minded democracies which has made it the pre-eminent power in the world. It has been the leader of the free world, and has benefited from these arrangements, even when elements of the system cost them. Swings and roundabouts. Trump has come along and only recognised the costs, and ignored the benefits, and pissed all over America's former allies and friends. America will come to regret this period in its history. And it will take time to rebuild what Trump tore down.
@peter I’ve always thought Iceland has a fair amount of Russian influence—is that influence enough, in such a small country, if supplemented by funding, to stop them from joining?
Mainly, they have fish, which, if they join EU, will be open for fishing for every EU country.
Mob boss Trump will confiscate that floating Iranian oil, sell it, and deposit the proceeds in his favorite offshore funds.
Relevance?
I can’t access the Day 4 video. Patreon says I need Analyst Access. Is that correct or a glitch?
Norway has been able to repulse invaders, after all, pickled herring are disgusting. Nevertheless, they have strategic stuff the US needs. As a non-EU state they could negotiate a naval/space base lease. A mini-NATO of greenland, norway and iceland with US security guarantees might float.
Norway unfortunately has no real internal prospects of joining the EU in the forseeable future. We don't even want to take a debate about it. The population has been clearly against joining since our 1994 referrendum and increasingly so. We're part of the EEA (European Economic Area) which grants us free market access to the EU in return for paying them almost the same as a full membership and have to adopt their laws with no real say in forming them. This latter part has created an increased sceptisim against the EU - especially with the rising energy/electrocity prices this decade which is mostly blamed on the EU and power exchange lines.
I would make a move until the midterms if they happen and Trump is eliminated
I’d love for both to join. And the UK. A unified approach to the North Atlantic would be nice. That said The Nordics are pretty unified and I don’t see them leaving either Norway or Iceland hung out to dry. Particularly with the raw materials in both places. It’s in their interest to protect them. They’d likely get a better deal than the UK. Unless we get ship building. Just saw an article on uptick in Scottish yards.
I am sure the EU will welcome free access to their fishing grounds and destroy their fishing industries.
I would take the bureaucratic headache of Brussels dealing with my fishing industry than having to deal with the bipolar irrationality of the Epstein president of the United States
They need to sell t-shirts and coffee mugs to raise defense money - Iceland Defense Force please.
Sorry guys but this is a PZ classic overreaction video he does from time to time. These countries have went back and forth with EU membership for decades. This is nothing new that they are once again starting to have this conversation AGAIN.
What shall England do?
Trump will be gone soon enough. The American people do not support his shenanigans in Norway/Greenland. They should have some patience and consider retaining their identity and independence from EU ...vagueness.
What about Canada? I think Europe needs a 2 tier membership system to somehow get Britain back and through it, maybe Canada too. Second tier countries can be UK Switzerland Canada
The commonwealth ....
The last sentence was the whole video, though it was fun to see Peter battle a blustery wind.
If Putin were smart enough, he could make a 180 turn and take away Europe from the US. Stop the war in Ukraine, get back to international borders, pay reparations, etc. But in exchange, the benefit for Russia would be huge. And Russia would have a main role in this new strategic arrangement.
And Putin is smart enough... he just needs a little push, ....through the window if necessary.
the freakout of Europe over what was said about Greenland is so head scratching
Europeans are annoying creatures. Frankly this video was annoying because it has hint of TDS. The idea that Norway and Iceland considering joining the EU is this unprecedented thing that’s never happened before. Please they have had these discussions on and off for decades.
https://youtu.be/ccz0EXDYg9E?si=frdG0lYpZ9FsBz4A
History repeating itself but with a different actor.
EU == Extremely Useless / Essentially Unhelpful / Existentially Underwhelming NATO == No American Trusted Organization Good! Let the go mooch elsewhere; we are f*cking broke!
You dont live in the EU....
Canada too!
And Australia....😅
Bonk....