There is a new engagement between India and the Nordic countries, partly driven by the middle powers’ desire to find common ground in the face of concerns about global power. However, there are clear differences between them on relations with Russia, as stated by Iceland’s Prime Minister Kristjan Mjol Frostdottir. Speaking to The Hindu on the sidelines of the India-Nordic summit in Oslo on Tuesday (May 19, 2026), Ms Frostdottir, who at 38 is one of the world’s youngest leaders and an economist by training, said she hoped to discuss new areas to improve bilateral trade by focusing on renewable energy technologies, which is currently at extremely low levels, and more Indians with Icelandic background.

Advocated shooting of films. (The reporter was in Oslo at the invitation of the Norwegian Foreign Ministry to cover the India-Nordic Summit).