What to know about Iceland's vote on whether to restart talks to join the EU

REYKJAVIK, Iceland (AP) — When U.S. President Donald Trump said he wanted a “piece of ice, cold and poorly located,” the people of Iceland had every reason to worry even if he was referring to Greenland.

Their concern was not only that the object of Trump's desire was their nearest big neighbor, but that he repeatedly called it Iceland — four times.

That gaffe, as Trump continued to press for control of Greenland earlier this year, could help push the fiercely independent Iceland and its 400,000 people closer to Europe as voters decide Saturday whether to restart talks to join the European Union.

“We can’t really trust the U.S. anymore,” said Hildur Knútsdóttir, a horror fiction writer who plans to vote in favor of EU membership. “Trump was not joking about Greenland. There was a lot of fear here in Iceland because if he takes Greenland with force, we’re probably going to be next.”

Iceland's decision is whether to continue going it alone successfully and maintain control of precious natural resources like its lucrative and well-managed fisheries, or to strengthen ties with Europe to better insulate the country from geopolitical instability and gain economic benefits such as the more stable euro currency and lower interest rates and inflation.

Iceland, which is a member of NATO, already participates in the EU’s single market through the European Economic Area and is part of the Schengen free-travel zone.

For both sides of the debate, it's really a matter of sovereignty, said Hulda Thorisdottir, a political science professor at the University of Iceland.

Opponents argue that the nation that won its independence from Denmark in 1944 enjoys all the benefits of European integration with no drawbacks. Why surrender that when they're doing so well? she said.

“The independence of Iceland is the most precious resource that we have," said Haraldur Olafsson, a physics professor who is chairman of Heimssýn, a Euroskeptic group that opposes EU membership. “The possibility of making your own law and deciding how things are done is essential.”

EU proponents, however, see it through the lens of a rapidly changing world in which shifting alliances pose a security risk. Being outside the EU makes Iceland vulnerable and that threatens its sovereignty, Thorisdottir said.

Foreign and Defense Minister Thorgerdur Katrín Gunnarsdóttir, who supports joining the EU, said when she asks people from smaller countries such as Ireland, Finland or Luxembourg, whether they feel they've lost their sovereignty, "they look at me like I’m a crazy woman” and say membership has made them stronger.

Prime Minister Kristrun Frostadottir’s center-left coalition government was elected in 2024 on a platform that called for a vote on EU membership.

Icelanders did not vote on the decision to apply for EU membership in 2009, after the country’s debt-burdened banking sector collapsed during the 2008 global financial crisis. Accession talks were suspended in 2013 after a center-right government came to power, and they formally ended in 2015.

The referendum is a first step to potentially joining the 27-nation bloc. Voters will answer a simple yes-or-no question: Should Iceland resume accession negotiations with the European Union?

If voters reject the proposal, the issue would be put to rest. A yes vote would lead to a yearslong negotiating process with the European Commission assessing 35 sets of criteria from financial systems to fisheries, transport networks, agricultural regulations, and freedoms such as speech and religion.

Any agreement would need to be approved by all current EU member nations and then voters in Iceland would have the final say on whether to join.

The descendants of Vikings who settled Iceland have been living off the sea for centuries, and fishing remains part of the country's cultural identity. They fought the so-called Cod Wars with Britain to win control of their fishing grounds in the 1970s.

Their rich North Atlantic fishing grounds have always been a key sticking point to joining the EU over concerns they would have to join the Common Fisheries Policy that would allow Spanish, Dutch and other trawlers into their waters.

Any deal with the EU that doesn't protect Iceland's fishing rights is seen as dead in the water, but Gunnarsdóttir and other officials are confident any deal will offer an exemption for Iceland's fisheries.

“We are a superpower when it comes to fisheries,” she said. “We will not sign any agreement which will not underline our sovereignty and full control of our fisheries.”

Heiðrun Lind Marteinsdóttir, the CEO of Fisheries Iceland, said the seafood trade organization doesn't oppose joining the EU if there is a permanent opt-out from the fisheries policy, but she said that would be unprecedented.

“I think we need to be very realistic on the negotiation process and what we can get out of the negotiations," she said. "To be honest, I think, we’re aiming high.”

Others in the industry are more skeptical that any protection of Icelandic fisheries would be lasting — especially for open water species like herring, capelin and mackerel that migrate between different fishing zones.

“We are going to see European fishing vessels here in Iceland,” Einar Sigurdsson, chairman of Isfelag fishing company, predicted.

The government had planned to hold the vote by next year but moved it up after Trump’s repeated overtures about taking over Greenland, a self-governing territory of Denmark, a longtime U.S. ally.

The U.S. State Department reassured Iceland officials that Trump meant Greenland during his repeated slip of the tongue at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Gunnarsdóttir, the foreign minister, said.

It didn't help that William Long, the newly arrived U.S. ambassador in Reykjavik, once joked that Iceland would become the 52nd U.S. state and he'd be its governor. He apologized, but the remark prompted thousands of Icelanders to sign a petition urging the prime minister to reject his appointment.

Gunnarsdóttir said Trump's saber-rattling emphasized the importance of the EU's collection of small and large nations standing as one with Greenland and Denmark.

“That is so important for us to see a group of like-minded nations stand together on principles and values," she said. “That is also what I’m looking at when I see the European Union in this volatile world.”

A fishing boat moored at Reykjavik Harbor in Reykjavik, Iceland, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/James Brooks)

An Icelandic flag waves in the wind at Reykjavik Harbor in Reykjavik, Iceland, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/James Brooks)

Workers process fish at Visir's fish processing facility in Grindavik, Iceland, Friday, Aug. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/James Brooks)

A supporter holds a t-shirt reading, "Yes to see", at the opening of the "Yes" campaign's office in Reykjavik, Iceland, Friday, Aug. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/James Brooks)

A man holds a badge reading "See", at the opening of the "Yes" campaign's office in Reykjavik, Iceland, Friday, Aug. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/James Brooks)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee Titans are undefeated this preseason with new coach Robert Saleh. They also have a lot to work on before the season opener.

D'Ernest Johnson had a 2-yard touchdown run with 5:45 left to help the Titans overcome a 13-point deficit Sunday night and beat the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks 19-16 in a preseason game.

Joey Slye kicked four field goals, including a long of 55 yards, as the Titans (2-0) gave Saleh a win in his preseason home debut. Slye chipped away at a lead built by Seattle's backups with coach Mike Macdonald resting his starters after a joint practice with the Seahawks' preseason finale Friday night.

“It’s got to be better,” Saleh said. “Guys, I’m not trying to sugar coat it.”

Drew Lock threw for 103 yards and a touchdown, and Jacardia Wright ran 69 yards for a touchdown as Seattle (0-2) jumped out to a 16-3 lead.

“It was a successful week, but ultimately you want to be able to win these games,” Macdonald said. "But we definitely made an improvement from last week, so let’s keep going.”

Tennessee struggled from the opening coin flip, which the Titans won the toss only to defer, and Seattle needed seven plays before Lock found a wide-open Elijah Arroyo for a 36-yard TD.

Cam Ward started for Tennessee with the rest of the starters and was 8 of 12 for 69 yards. He led the Titans to Slye's first field goal. Ward also had the ball poked out of his hand by linebacker Chazz Surratt as the quarterback scrambled right early in the second on his third and final drive.

Both Saleh and Ward credited Surratt with making a great play. Ward also was just as confident talking about the Titans' offense.

“We’re actually right there to getting where we want to be," Ward said. "And the coaching staff, they continue to push us to that standpoint where we want to be, but it’s going to end up paying off.”

The Titans also had three penalties in the first quarter, including an illegal contact on cornerback Cor'Dale Flott, among their many defensive free agents signed in March. The penalty on Flott wiped out safety Kevin Winston Jr.'s interception at the Titans 3.

Even when Jalen McMurray recovered a muffed punt return by Seattle's Cody White at the Seahawks 11, the Titans still had to settle for a field goal after a holding penalty wiped out Mitch Trubisky's 4-yard TD pass to Xavier Restrepo.

The Seahawks had their moments. Celebrating Wright's TD so enthusiastically Seattle was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct, and Jason Myers missed the extra long extra point attempt just right for a 13-3 lead. Myers also pushed a 44-yard field goal wide right in the second quarter.

Seattle lost wide receiver Jake Bobo to a knee injury that had him carted out of Friday's joint practice and placed on injured reserve Saturday.

Left guard Mason Richman went down on the opening drive and had to be helped to the sideline after getting his right leg stretched. Macdonald said they have to figure out what the specific issue is, but he called it a “major injury, a long-term injury.”

On Seattle's first defensive play, rookie safety Bud Clark broke his right ankle and Macdonald said he'll miss months. Trainers put his leg in an air cast, and players from both teams came up to the rookie before he was carted off the field. Clark was Seattle's second-round pick and 64th overall out of Texas Christian.

“Two guys that we love, that play our style of ball, that are our type of guys,” Macdonald said of Richman and Clark. "Teammates love ’em, great teammates, great guys, great football players. They have great futures. It’s a heartbreaker, honestly. We’ve had three heartbreakers this week, which is tough.”

The Seahawks and Titans kept officials very busy. Seattle was flagged 14 times for 129 yards, while Tennessee was penalized 11 for 100 yards.

The Seahawks wrap up the preseason Friday night at Kansas City.

The Titans host Chicago on Saturday night.

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

Seattle Seahawks tight end Elijah Arroyo (18) celebrates with teammates after catching a touchdown pass during the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis)

Seattle Seahawks defensive back Bud Clark (9) is carted off the field after getting injured during the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Tennessee Titans kicker Joey Slye (6) celebrates with teammate Tommy Townsend (3) after kicking a field goal during the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Tennessee Titans running back Dominic Richardson (21) runs from Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle J.R. Singleton (70) during the second half of a preseason NFL football game, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Seattle Seahawks cornerback Jordan Washington, rear, breaks up a pass intended for Tennessee Titans tight end Joel Wilson (83) during the second half of a preseason NFL football game, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis)