The relationship between Iceland and Turkey traces an unexpected path, with moments of dramatic contact and quieter years of trade and diplomacy. While today the two countries maintain formal diplomatic relations, their intertwined history reaches back to a different kind of meeting, one that left a lasting impression on Icelandic society.
From 17th-century raids to 20th-century diplomacy
In 1627, seafaring raiders from North Africa, known as Barbary or ‘Turkish’ pirates, struck the Icelandic coast under Danish rule. Although often called the ‘Turkish Abductions’, these attacks were not carried out by Turks as such, but by a group of Muslims from the wider Mediterranean, then frequently labelled as ‘Turkish’ by Europeans since most belonged to the Ottoman Empire. The raids, led in part by a Danish convert, resulted in the abduction and enslavement of hundreds of Icelanders and had a significant cultural impact, shaping Icelandic memory and identity for generations afterwards. In fact, the trauma of the ‘Turkish Abductions’ contributed to Iceland’s independence movement in the 19th century, as the story was retold to emphasise the need for self-governance.
Modern ties and trade exchanges
Though indirect contacts continued for centuries, significant modern engagement started in the 20th century. In 1930, Iceland signaled its hope to establish links with Turkey, following a trade agreement Turkey had signed with Denmark. At the time, Turkish authorities considered a trade and navigation agreement with Iceland, ultimately judging that commercial relations would be suitable. Icelandic trader Björn Ólafsson even sought to become Turkey’s consul general in Reykjavík in 1934, but as trade ties were still modest, this proposal was not pursued.
Diplomatic relations were formally established in 1957. The following year, Turkey appointed its ambassador in Oslo as its representative to Iceland, while Iceland is represented in Turkey through its embassy in Copenhagen. Over the decades, honorary consulates were opened in both countries: Turkey in Iceland in 1960, and Iceland in Istanbul later the same year.
A notable agreement was signed in 1955, when Turkish and Icelandic ambassadors removed visa requirements for each other’s citizens for stays up to three months. However, Iceland’s later accession to the Schengen Area brought back visa rules for Turkish citizens in 2001.
Their economic ties have remained limited. In 1973, Iceland’s exports to Turkey made up 1 percent of its total export, and by 2018, the trade volume between the two countries stood at 51 million dollars. Iceland mostly exports fish, seashells, aluminum, machinery and boilers to Turkey, while Turkey exports vehicles, salt, sulfide, and gypsum to Iceland. Between 2002 and 2018, Icelandic investment in Turkey was 3 million dollars, while Turkish investment in Iceland reached 2 million dollars.
Incidents have occasionally tested the relationship. In 2019, the Turkish national football team faced long delays and searches at Keflavík airport en route to a qualifying match, prompting complaints from Turkey’s foreign minister about their treatment.
Despite their differences in scale and geography, Iceland and Turkey’s relations reflect a history marked by both dramatic and routine exchanges, evidence of the complex history binding even distant European nations.
