Iceland is holding a referendum on Saturday on whether to reopen talks on joining the European Union, as US President Donald Trump’s aggressive stance on Greenland heightens Arctic security concerns. The vote in the Nordic country of about 400,000 people concerns restarting negotiations rather than immediate EU membership. A Gallup survey found 51.5% of decided voters supported renewed talks, while 48.5% opposed them.

Iceland applied to join the EU in 2009 after the global financial crisis, but a later centre-right government suspended the process over concerns about sovereignty and control of fishing waters. Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir says voters can support talks without committing to membership, arguing that negotiations would reveal what terms the EU could offer. She cites potential investment stability, eurozone access, agricultural support, infrastructure loans and research links.

Opponents, including Independence Party leader Guðrún Hafsteinsdóttir, warn that EU membership could weaken national control over resources and fishing grounds. Iceland has no military or defence ministry but belongs to NATO, the European Economic Area and Schengen. A yes vote would begin membership negotiations, which Iceland’s foreign minister estimates could take about 18 months, followed by another national referendum on final accession.