Relations between Italy and Iceland are traditionally very friendly. The two countries have similar and often converging positions on most major international issues. Both countries are members of NATO and major international organizations.
Bilateral political contacts, which intensified between 2008 (visit to Rome by the then Foreign Minister Gisladottir) and 2009 (meeting in Rome between the then Foreign Minister Frattini and his Icelandic counterpart Skarphéðinsson; visit to Reykjavík by the then Undersecretary Mantica) , have subsequently become rarefied, also in the light of a certain “withdrawal” of Iceland, consequent to the well-known very strong financial crisis.
On 2 June 2011, the President of the Republic Grímsson took part in the celebrations for the 150th anniversary of the Unification of Italy.
On 9 November 2012, the meeting between the Icelandic Minister for Industry and Innovation, Steingrímur J. Sigfússon and the Minister of Economy Vittorio Grilli took place in Rome. Foreign Minister Sveinsson paid a visit to Rome on 25 June 2015, during which he met with Foreign Minister Gentiloni.
In February 2018 and May 2019 the Secretary General Amb. Elisabetta Belloni met in Rome and Reykjavik with her Icelandic counterpart, Amb. Sturla Sigurjonsson.
The last Italian state visit to Iceland was that of President Scalfaro, and dates back to June 1997.
In May 2022 the Minister of Foregn Affairs Luigi Di Maio met his counterpart Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörd Gylfadóttir.
In June 2022 the Defense Minister Lorenzo Guerini paid an official visit to Iceland to meet the Air Force Task Force involved in the NATO air surveillance operation in Iceland and for political meetings with the Icelandic authorities. Among the topics discussed were the war in Ukraine, NATO, strategic concept, industrial cooperation and geostrategic perspectives.
In June 2022 the Secretary General of the Farnesina Amb. Ettore Francesco Sequi received in Rome for bilateral consultations the Permanent Secretary of State of Iceland Amb. Martin Eyjolfsson.
In May 2023 the Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni paid an official visit to Iceland to meet her counterpart Katrín Jakobsdóttir.