Greenland ,with is rugged terrain and raw beauty, is the immediate neighbor of Iceland to the west. Iceland Greenland relations thus goes back to the times Iceland was born as that subsequently led to the birth of Greenland. The Iceland Greenland connection can be traced back to the early history of Iceland when Eric, the Red fled from Iceland and settled on the soils of Greenland. There he remained for a few years and named it Greenland. Icelandic sagas give elaborate accounts of Greenland. In 1000 A.D Iceland Greenland both became Christianized.
Iceland Greenland relations share a common platform as history shows that like Iceland Greenland too had been taken over by the Norsemen followed by the Norwegians and then by the Danes. The Norsemen entered into war with the Inuits (the inhabitants of Vinland ) and soon they left Greenland. Their place was taken by the Norwegians who at the same time had colonized Iceland. But the Norwegians were again replaced by the Danish monarchy which took over the power and became the head of state of both Greenland and its neighbor Iceland.
Like Iceland Greenland too had to undergo a long period of colonization under Denmark and it was only in 1953 when Home rule was granted to Greenland. International relations went to the hands of the state government. After leaving EU ( European Union ) Greenland signed a special treaty with the Union and have also entered smaller organizations not least with Iceland and the Faroe Islands.
Though Iceland Greenland relations are not strongly influenced by their geographical identities they definitely share a common history. The waters between Iceland and Greenland separate the two countries but their political history show a long term connection between them. Iceland Greenland association has remained cordial throughout and in the present times Iceland Greenland have entered into conventions to keep up good relations.
