Iceland's foreign minister fears Brexit moment' in country's EU accession referendum

Iceland’s foreign minister warns that the upcoming EU referendum could resemble a Brexit moment, describing it as a dangerous path. She says misinformation and fearmongering are being used by individuals and groups inside and outside Iceland, including rhetoric she links to Nigel Farage and Reform. She warns that foreign interference and the spread of misinformation could affect the vote result, and that Russia and other actors may target public debate. She cites disputed figures used in the UK Brexit campaign as an example of misleading claims. The coalition government announced the referendum date for 29 August, after previously indicating a later timeline, and said the decision was influenced by international security pressures, including US threats related to Greenland.

"I am fearing that we will face a Brexit moment, she told the Guardian. That would be, from my point of view, a rather dangerous path because there were all kinds of lies put forward by the Brexiteers. She cited disputed figures used by the leave campaign over how much money the UK sent to the EU. orgerur said Brexit should be an example of how not to run a campaign rather than something to be emulated. Nothing of what they promised has actually been activated or realised, she said."

"orgerur Katrin Gunnarsdottir accused individuals and groups from inside and outside the country of fearmongering, saying Iceland was being hit with misinformation and rhetoric taken from the playbook of Nigel Farage and Reform. She said the referendum was at risk of being a target for Russia and actors who seek to influence our public debate in a negative way. Foreign interference and the spread of misinformation could end up affecting the result, the minister warned."

"With just over three months to go until Iceland votes on whether or not to continue accession talks with the EU, developments are being closely watched by Washington, Moscow and Brussels. The move was in part motivated by threats from the US, a longtime close ally of Iceland, to forcibly acquire its closest neighbour, Greenland. orgerur said: For us, from my point of view, the international order that underpinned our security and prosperity for decades is under serious pressure."

Read at www.theguardian.com