“A heavy and great shadow over Europe”

“I think we will be looking at fateful weeks ahead. Of course, I cannot say anything about how they will turn out, but I am worried about it,” says Þórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörð Gylfadóttir, an MP for the Independence Party, in an interview with mbl.is from the Belgian capital Brussels, where she will attend a three-day meeting with the NATO parliamentary group.

Gylfadóttir, however, has just returned from the annual security conference in Munich, which ended today.

“There is a heavy and great shadow over Europe,” says the MP, who is attending the conference with a third Icelandic politician, who was also attended by Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir and Foreign Minister Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir.

We have a lot to do for it to go well

Gylfadóttir says that there has long been a lack of understanding of the seriousness of the situation, “at home in Iceland, but in many other places as well. I hope that it is changing quickly, I sincerely hope that we take this seriously and do more, we have a role to play and if we respect ourselves and the situation then we will do it,” Gylfadóttir says, presumably referring to the long-running war in Ukraine, where a ceasefire is now perhaps imminent.

“This development, which seems to be quite rapid these days and weeks, calls for a deep understanding of the situation and I think it is important that we take care of ourselves and are balanced, firm, and responsible, that we remind ourselves that we want to be a worthy ally. We have a lot to do for this not to go badly and I think it is very important to draw attention to the use of words that have become widespread now when talking about peace talks,” she continues.

She thinks it's more appropriate to just talk about talks, at least given the tone and starting points that are now being adopted by the rest of the world. "Of course, one remains to be seen exactly what happens, but these are talks about ending the war, where the Ukrainians have no seat at the table, Europe does not seem to have a seat at the table. The war could of course end today. The Russians could leave territory that is not theirs and stop killing people and killing children and stealing them."

"...then you're on the menu"

Gylfadóttir then discusses the changed tone from the United States. "If you're not at the table, then you're on the menu and this tone from the Americans is of course serious - but words are one thing and decisions are another, we just need to wait and see," she says.

She said she had long emphasized what the new reality could bring - the direction is still in the wrong direction. “In that regard, I think it was just a good thing that the vice president of the United States was clear about that in his speech,” the congressman continued.

Vice President JD Vance said in his speech at the conference on Friday that there was a new sheriff in town, President Donald Trump. He brought with him a change in the relationship between the United States and its European allies on the Atlantic.

The vice president then accused European leaders of censorship of social media, interference in elections and violations of the rights of Christians. “I believe that ignoring people, ignoring their concerns or, even worse, shutting down the media, blowing up elections or keeping the public out of the political process does not provide any protection,” Vance said. “In fact, I think that is one of the surest ways to destroy democracy,” he added.

Existence depends on the system holding

Gylfadóttir says Europe has the capacity to do much more and that the scenario in the coming weeks will hopefully be that European states pull together and do what is needed. “I am now attending this security conference for the fourth year in a row, but now on different grounds. I am no longer in ministerial office and then the conversations will be different. When you have dozens of informal conversations every day with all kinds of people in all kinds of places, a certain picture emerges and unfortunately it is not a bright one,” Gylfadóttir says seriously and continues.

“Since 2021, I have maintained that we base our existence, living standards, and quality of life on the international system holding. That the peace we enjoy is not our own but rests on this system and cooperation with allies. These are Iceland’s clear interests. It has never been as obvious as it is now. We are facing a new reality and we must take it seriously. Now it's important to show up, do your homework, and do what's needed."

Do you feel that Europe is heading into an even darker chapter after attending the Munich conference, listening to speeches and talking to people?

"The tone of this conference was not optimistic or light, I can't say that. Now people need to change gears and think about a different game plan," answers Þórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörð Gylfadóttir, thus concluding her account of the security conference in southern Germany, who has arrived in Brussels for the NATO parliamentary meeting.