The Faroe Islands have long been seeking more ownership in relation to the Danish krone. Now the autonomous region is in a controversial affair: it wants to establish its own diplomatic representation in Jerusalem. "This is de facto a recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital," said the Faroese Foreign Minister Jenis av Rana the Danish newspaper "Politiken".
The funds were requested for the representation to be opened in September or October 2020. His government is in agreement on the move, and the majority of the population is in favor, said Rana. "The Faroe Islands love Israel."
Thus, the territory would oppose the established Danish and European policies, according to which diplomatic representations in Israel should stand in Tel Aviv. The Faroe Islands are officially part of Denmark but largely autonomous and not part of the EU.
Conflict potential: Danish head of government disagrees
Its foreign policy is governed by the Copenhagen Constitution. The Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen had recently promised the Faroes more influence on foreign policy decisions. However, during a Faroe Islands visit last week, she said, according to the Faroese news agency KVF, members of the kingdom should abide by the European Israeli line, according to which the representation should be in Tel Aviv.
US President Donald Trump unilaterally recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel at the end of 2017, causing much excitement. In May, the US moved its message from Tel Aviv there.
Israel claims Jerusalem as its capital, while the Palestinians want East Jerusalem as the capital of their own state of Palestine. Other countries followed the US in whole or in part: Romania also announced its intention to relocate its message from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Australia recognized West Jerusalem as the Israeli capital.
The area of the Faroe Islands comprises 18 islands in the North Atlantic with about 50,000 inhabitants, that is about as many as in an average German middle city like Stralsund. There are more sheep than humans.