Iceland was settled in medieval times, mainly by Norwegian people. The first wave probably started in 860, and saw its heyday from about 870 to 930. Iceland and Norway formed a common Norse cultural area in the North Sea, and much of Norway's history was chronicled by Icelandic writer Snorri Sturluson. Iceland was brought under Norwegian rule around 1262. This lasted until the Kalmar Union in 1380, which united the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden under a single monarch. The Kalmar union broke apart when the Lutheran Reformation became predominant, a union of the three Swedish crowns split apart from the Danish crown that continued to rule Norway, and Iceland, having hegemony over the North Sea. Norway gained independence from the so-called union, to some degree in 1814, whereas Iceland remained a colony until 1944. Greenland is still a Danish possession.
Economy and production
Whaling
The two countries share a common history with regard to whaling and have often joined forces with Japan to resist international calls to reduce commercial whaling. Both countries have resisted signing the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species that bans the trade in whale meat. The High North Alliance, which represents whalers, sealers and fishermen around the Arctic said "It's a legal import and a legal export, and in future might give access to a market that's really big for both Norwegian and Icelandic whalers". In 1992, Iceland and Norway jointly announced they would recommence commercial whaling on certain species after a 6-year moratorium. In 2002, Norway announced that it would allow a whaling company to export 10 to 15 tonnes of minke whale products to Iceland. This was condemned by the British Government as it was claimed the whale stocks they come from are on an international endangered species list. In 2006, the Icelandic fisheries ministry announced that it would authorise commercial whaling again, making it only the second country after Norway to hunt whales for commercial reasons.
In 2007, the two countries signed a defence agreement, covering surveillance and military defense of Icelandic air space and economic zone. It means that Norwegian jet fighters and surveillance aircraft will be patrolling Icelandic air space. It is underlined that the agreement with Norway only covers peace time. In case of a military conflict it is still NATO and the United States Government that will carry the main responsibility for Iceland's defence. The agreement was signed following the decision to withdraw the US military from the Keflavík naval air base in 2006.
