India, March 19 -- The European Union and Iceland on Wednesday formalized a new phase in their relationship, signing a Security and Defence Partnership that officials say will deepen strategic cooperation across a range of sectors, from maritime security to the protection of critical infrastructure.

The agreement, announced by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, marks what European officials described as a "next level" in ties between Brussels and Reykjavik, reflecting a broader push by the bloc to strengthen its network of international EU security partnerships amid a volatile global environment.

"Today's signature of an EU-Iceland Security and Defence Partnership takes our relationship to the next level," Kallas said, emphasizing th...