Iceland is holding a closely contested referendum on whether to restart talks on joining the EU, a decision that has revived arguments over sovereignty, food security and control of natural resources. The vote matters because a result in favour would begin negotiations rather than secure membership, but could still shape the country’s economic and strategic direction amid renewed concerns about the Arctic following Donald Trump’s ambitions towards Greenland.

The debate cuts across party and generational lines, with a Gallup poll putting the no side narrowly ahead on 51.6%, against 48.4% for yes. Farmers such as Davíð Clausen Pétursson fear that EU rules, lower prices and prolonged uncertainty could weaken Iceland’s relatively profitable agricultural sector; he says his farm produces milk for about 100 ISK a litre and sells it for 145 ISK. Supporters and opponents have also linked the decision to housing, inflation, defence, language, fishing and national identity.