“Important that we remain calm”

The National Security Council will be convened on Friday, Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir announced following today’s cabinet meeting.

“The National Security Council has been called together for Friday,” Frostadóttir said.
The meeting will address Iceland’s security concerns in light of global tensions, particularly in the Nordic region, Poland, and Estonia, where Russian drones and fighter jets have recently entered national airspace.

Frostadóttir said she did not believe there had been a reason to call the council together earlier.

Everyone is informed as needed

Asked why it took so long to convene the council instead of reacting sooner, Frostadóttir responded that no immediate grounds were seen for it. Instead, the council will meet at its scheduled session on Friday.

Earlier, Inga Sæland had argued that the council should be called to an emergency meeting right after a recent cabinet session. Frostadóttir countered that such a decision carries weight.

“Everyone was kept informed as necessary. We also need to remain calm in these circumstances, and our response must reflect that.”

Taking security issues seriously

The National Security Council has not been convened often under this government. Asked whether that made the council redundant, Frostadóttir dismissed the notion:

“This government takes security and defense issues very seriously. One only has to look at the budget allocations for this field since we took office. A new ministerial committee on security and defense has also been established,” she said.

Pressed further on whether the council is truly fulfilling its role — given that it is meant to respond to unexpected events — Frostadóttir emphasized that experts are in direct contact with ministers outside of council meetings:

“Information isn’t only exchanged in this forum. Of course, the council is important, but just as important is that we remain calm,” she concluded.