Iceland’s Security: A Small State Perspective Silja Bára Ómarsdóttir Faculty of Political Science University of Iceland
Introduction Background Traditional Icelandic Perspectives Current Context National Security Policy Developments Possible regional cooperation Policy Recommendations
Background “Eternally neutral” Military occupation US base Decreasing significance US departure Risk assessment Icelandic Defense Agency National security policy
Traditional Icelandic Perspectives Focused on territorial security US territorial security Military defenses provided via NATO and US presence Responsibility of others Lack of definition, planning, perspective Societal security and politico-military security disconnected
Current Context US departure forces reconsideration Revision of Act on Civil Protection Societal security perspectives Council on Civil Protection and Security Planning role only Passing of Act on Defense Politically charged Changes made after change in government
Risk Assessment and the IDA Risk assessment started late 2007 Completed early 2009 Impact of “the Crash” Icelandic Defense Agency set up (via Act on Defense) before completion Political and personal disputes Changes made 2010, IDA non-existent 1/1/11 After risk assessment a new picture of security emerges
Security in the Annual Budget 2012 Organization Staff Annual Budget (million ISK) Coordinated Emergency Response 29 304.3 Earthquake Engineering Research Centre 10 12.4 National Commissioner of the Icelandic Police (Security and Information Processing) n/a 1,262.4 (63.1) ICE-SAR 123.2 Maritime Safety 59 The Icelandic Coast Guard (Air Surveillance) 180 3.115 (184.9) The Schengen Agreement 112.1 The Post and Telecom Administration in Iceland 5 313.8 The Directorate of Health (EPI ICE) 64 (8) 547.5 (321.7) Icelandic Met Office 159 699.3 Humanitarian and Emergency Assistance 177.5 Defense (under police, general) 527.2 Icelandic Maritime Administration maritime monitoring 282.8 Iceland Construction Authority (Construction Safety) 449.2 (385) The Icelandic Avalanche and Landslide Fund 1276
National Security Policy In fall 2011 a Parliamentary Resolution agrees to set up a commission to shape a national security policy Members of Parliament representing all parties Short time to complete the task, which is to hand in proposals to the Minister for Foreign Affairs In other acts cyber security has been addressed In public discourse economic security is often mentioned
Policy Recommendations Legislature and executive need to learn from studies, not focus on politics Linkages between civil protection and defense acts should be acknowledged Political disputes need to be reconciled to formulate a long-standing, consistent policy
Conclusions Smallness is reflected in Iceland’s security In fragmented policy, built around personal expertise situated in various agencies In that it is reactive, relies on others to formulate policy, have vision In that it is dependent on others – for example Nordics – in cooperating Stoltenberg proposals popular with politicians In that it seeks shelter within alliances and “special relationships”