AS REPORTEDno primary record reached; this is what the reporting says
The available reference material mentions British relations and an occupation during World War II, but does not provide definitive evidence to fully confirm or refute whether the islands were formally conquered.
# Why weren't the Faroe Islands ever conquered by Britain?
Tags: british-empire, denmark
- Score: 11
- Views: 13628
- Answers: 2
- Answered: yes
- Asked by: DrZ214 (17471 rep)
- Asked: 2016-02-26
- Site: history
## Question
Here are the Faroe Islands:
According to the history I read, they've always been under Denmark's control except in the middle of WWII.
Why weren't these ever conquered by Britain? They seem close enough, almost as close as the Shetland Islands (which have been Scottish and/or British since the 1300's).
Particularly after the Seven Years War (1762), when Britain's Navy was becoming hugely dominant, why weren't they taken? There was also the French Revolution, Gunboat War, and the War of the 6th Coalition, all of which saw Britain and Denmark-Norway on opposite sides.
From what I read, there was a trading monopoly on the Faroes, so there was at least economic incentive.
I might also ask the same thing about Iceland or Greenland for similar reasons.
## Answers
### Answer by D J Sims (score: 20)
Britain never saw a compelling reason to take them. On the other hand, the Faroes were strategic to Denmark, because of their supply route to Iceland and Greenla
Faroe Islands–United Kingdom relations
Faroese Prime Minister Kaj Leo Johannesen with British Foreign Office Minister Lord Howell in London, April 2012.
The Faroe Islands–United Kingdom relations are the foreign and bilateral relations between the Faroe Islands and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The Faroe Islands and the United Kingdom share a close and multifaceted relationship characterized by historical ties, geographical proximity, and strong political, economic, and cultural cooperation.
Bilaterally the two countries have a Double Taxation Agreement, and a Free Trade Agreement.
| Map indicating locations of Faroe Islands and United Kingdom | - |
| --- | --- |
| Faroe Islands | - |
| Diplomatic mission | - |
| Representation of the Faroe Islands, London | Consulate of the United Kingdom, Tórshavn |
## History
The UK occupied Faroe Islands from 1940 until 1945, when the Faroe Islands were returned to Denmark.
## Economic relations
The Free Trade Agreement between the United Kingdom and the Kingdom of Denmark, in respect of the Faroe Islands, was signed on 31 January 2019 in London. This agreement was established to continue and strengthen the t