Iceland’s rejection of restarting EU accession talks benefits Russia and China.

Axar.az reports that Gunther Fehlinger-Jahn, head of the Austrian NGO European Committee for NATO Enlargement, stated on his X account.

“Iceland has narrowly rejected restarting EU accession negotiations: 52.8% No, 47.2% Yes, with 82.5% turnout,” Fehlinger-Jahn wrote.

He said the vote was not a final referendum on EU membership but on whether to reopen accession negotiations.

“Putin benefits whenever Europe is divided. Xi benefits whenever European strategic unity weakens,” he said, adding that U.S. President Donald Trump’s pressure over Greenland had shown why Europe should become stronger and more sovereign in the Arctic.

Fehlinger-Jahn said Iceland was already deeply integrated with Europe through NATO, the European Economic Area and Schengen, but argued that rejecting the talks was “a strategic mistake.”

“Iceland belongs in the EU,” he said.