Iceland’s foreign minister has warned that the country faces a “Brexit moment” in its upcoming EU accession referendum, citing risks of misinformation, foreign interference, and AI-driven manipulation. Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir accused opponents of “fearmongering” and said the campaign was drawing on tactics used by Nigel Farage and Reform UK.
The referendum, scheduled for 29 August, will ask Icelanders whether the government should resume accession talks with the European Union. The coalition government, comprising the Social Democratic Alliance, the People’s party, and the Liberal Reform party, surprised many by advancing the vote from its original 2027 deadline, partly in response to US threats to acquire Greenland.
Þorgerður expressed concern that Russia and other actors could seek to influence the outcome. “I am fearing that we will face a Brexit moment,” she said, pointing to disputed figures used by the UK’s leave campaign. She argued that Brexit should serve as a cautionary tale, not a model.
Opinion polls show a tight contest, with 42% in favour of reopening talks and 39% opposed. Fishing, a key industry and cultural touchstone, has become a particularly emotive issue. Advocates of EU membership cite security and integration benefits, while opponents warn of impacts on sovereignty and fishing rights.
Þorgerður urged voters to “make up their own minds” and be wary of misinformation, noting that some political parties were using tactics reminiscent of UKIP during the Brexit campaign. A spokesperson for Reform UK denied any connection to the Icelandic referendum.
