Iceland's foreign minister Þórdís Kolbrún R. Gylfadóttir expressed her country's unwavering commitment to Finland and Sweden joining Nato as it not only strengthens the alliance militarily, but also the values that the alliance was formed to safeguard.
Support for Nato membership in Iceland has been close to 90 percent since Russia invaded Ukraine in February.
Gylfadóttir is a 35-year-old firebrand politician who has previously held ministerial postings for justice and tourism.
"Iceland would not survive in a world based on the use of force by individual countries. One where you could survive without punishment, if only you had more power, weapons and bad will than others. That is why it is also necessary that Ukraine wins the war currently going on in Europe," Gylfadóttir told Yle.
"Values must be cherished, not taken away"
Gylfadóttir considered Finland and Sweden joining the alliance revolutionary for the future of all of Nato.
"I believe that the membership of Finland and Sweden will, first of all, develop closer Nordic relations. But above all, it will increase regional, European and Nato security," she said in her interview.
Additionally, she saw this as a means to bolster Nordic cooperation. The Nordic countries consist of Finland, Sweden, Iceland, Norway and Denmark. Iceland, Norway and Denmark were all founding members of the Nato alliance in 1949.
The basic values of democracy, human rights, freedom of speech and equality are not self-evident even among Nato countries. Therefore, according to Gylfadóttir, they must also be displayed in defence cooperation.
"Nato was not founded on armies and weapons, but on a common base of values. The sayings must also be put into practice. Values must be cherished, not taken away from us," Gylfadóttir emphasised.
Out of 30 Nato member states, 24 have so far ratified Finland's bid to join the alliance