The Faroe Islands are territory of Denmark located in the middle of the North Atlantic. Like Greenland, this is a remote part of the Kingdom of Denmark, hundreds of kilometers from Copenhagen, and is increasingly becoming a geopolitical hotspot.
The Faroe Islands have 18 islands, rugged terrain, majestic scenery, strong winds and heavy rain. With about 55,000 people, the Faroe Islands are located on a strategic sea route between Iceland and Scotland, the gateway to the Arctic, where competing powers are influenced.
European fishing boats, US warships and Russian submarines regularly pass through this sea area. A few years ago, a Chinese company tried to participate in upgrading Faroe's telecommunications system.
Unlike Greenland, which is heavily dependent on subsidies from Denmark, the Faroe Islands have built a strong local economy. This helps people have a high standard of living and financial potential to consider self-reliance. In recent years, the Faroe Islands' independence movement has increased.
In 1946, the Faroe people voted in favor of independence but were prevented by the King of Denmark. In 2000, when the Faroes sought to negotiate complete sovereignty, Copenhagen threatened to cut subsidies. At that time, the economy was not strong enough, so the Faroes withdrew.
In January 2026, the Faroe Islands are expected to resume negotiations with Denmark to expand autonomy. But after President Donald Trump reaffirmed his intention to control Greenland, causing concern for the entire Kingdom of Denmark, Faroe leaders said it was not the right time for tense negotiations.
However, President Donald Trump's threats to annex Greenland have created a vital challenge for the Kingdom of Denmark. Greenland is therefore getting closer to Copenhagen. Meanwhile, Faroe Islands are suspending plans to negotiate with Denmark on expanding autonomy.
However, the leaders of the semi-autonomous government of Faroe Islands affirmed that they will not give up the goal. "Greenland and Denmark are in a difficult situation" - Chief Minister Aksel V. Johannesen said, while emphasizing that there is still a widespread political consensus in Faroe Islands on the need to change relations with Denmark.
Although less noticed than Greenland, Faroe Islands is being closely monitored by geopolitical analysts. People here also clearly feel the increasing interest.
Faroe Islands are located right at one of the world's most important naval "bottleneck": Russia's strategic route between the Arctic and the Atlantic Ocean.
This route is called GIUK Gap - abbreviated for Greenland, Iceland and the United Kingdom - with the narrowest point being about 320km.
NATO has increased patrols here in the past year, while Russian nuclear submarines from the Murmansk base also regularly move through the area.
Mr. Troy J. Bouffard, Director of the Center for Arctic Security and Recovery at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, USA, said that the Faroe Islands are of strategic importance far beyond its population size.
Although the population is equivalent to a small suburb in the US, the Faroe Islands are located in the central transit route of one of NATO's main rivals, he said.
According to data from the Faroe Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in recent years, more and more US and NATO submarines have docked in Faroe ports.
After the Russia-Ukraine conflict broke out in 2022, most of Europe restricted Russian ships. Faroe Islands still allow Russian fishing boats to dock.
Currently, the Faroe Islands are in the NATO security protection zone through membership in the Kingdom of Denmark, one of the founding countries of the alliance.
