History
The first Ambassador to Iceland was appointed during the Second World War. At the time, Iceland was a part of the Kingdom of Denmark. On 9 April 1940, Nazi Germany invaded Denmark. Immediately, Iceland declared itself responsible for its own foreign affairs, and declared strict neutrality.
To prevent the emergence of a pro-Nazi government in Reykjavík, and help fight the Battle of the Atlantic, the United Kingdom occupied Iceland on 10 May 1940. With the British troops that arrived came, Charles Smith arrived as the diplomatic envoy to the Icelandic government. Smith died in his post in 1942, and was replaced by Sir Edward Shepherd the following year. In 1944, still at the height of the war, Iceland declared its full independence from Denmark, and Shepherd was promoted to full ambassador.
Although the diplomatic mission in Iceland is not a large one, nor particularly prestigious, its importance during the Cold War was disproportionate, due to its strategic location in the North Atlantic. More crucial to British interests was the string of diplomatic and economic disputes related to fishing rights, which culminated in the Cod Wars.
Read more about this topic: List Of Ambassadors Of The United Kingdom To Iceland
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