Why Scottish MSPs were in Iceland this week after Nicola Sturgeon's past visit as SNP leader

But for three MSPs, including Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone, it has been a chance to visit the Arctic Circle Assembly in Iceland.

The assembly is an annual conference bringing together governments, universities, think-tanks and communities from the Arctic region, and this year was held in Reykjavík.

So why were the Scottish trio there?

What were the MSPs up to in Iceland?

The presiding officer, alongside Labour MSP Monica Lennon and SNP MSP Ben Macpherson, attended the assembly in Iceland on behalf of the Scottish Parliament.

This is actually the fifth time a member of the Scottish Parliament has attended the Arctic Circle Assembly - the first time someone from Holyrood was represented was 2018.

In fact while serving as first minister, Nicola Sturgeon attended this conference.

The visit was used as a chance to meet with their counterparts from the Alþingi [Icelandic Parliament] and discuss “common challenges, exchange ideas and learn from one another”.

Ms Johnstone said it was “an important opportunity to discuss shared challenges with colleagues from across the Nordic region”.

A Holyrood spokesman also told The Scotsman that international engagement like this was “vital” in promoting the Scottish Parliament as open and accessible, and helping to enhance Holyrood’s profile and reputation internationally.

Why does Scotland want to work with the Arctic region?

Scotland is actually the world’s most northerly non-Arctic region.

Unst in Shetland is further north than some parts of Greenland, Alaska and Canada, and Scottish waters stretch 200 miles into the Norwegian Sea and North Atlantic Ocean.

Parts of Scotland, such as Orkney and Shetland, also have proud Nordic connections. Love politics? Then sign up for The Steamie daily newsletter

Last year, the Scottish Government said: “From an Arctic perspective, Scotland’s location at the edge of Europe is far from peripheral. Quite the opposite - we are in a key strategic position connecting the European Arctic with central Europe and North America.

“There is growing international recognition of the constructive role that Scotland can and is playing as a close sub-Arctic neighbour.”

What happens at the Arctic Circle Assembly?

The Arctic Circle Assembly was attended by heads of state, ministers, members of parliament, officials, experts, scientists, entrepreneurs, business leaders, indigenous representatives, environmentalists, students and activists interested in the future of the Arctic.

It is not limited to only the world’s Arctic nations - others who want to work with these nations attend as well.

In fact, the honorary board of the assembly is made up of Prince Albert II of Monaco, US Senator Lisa Murkowski and Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, the United Arab Emirates special envoy for climate change.

This year’s assembly had a number of sessions on the UK’s relations with the Arctic circle, including UK-led sessions on the UK-Iceland Arctic science partnership scheme, the Arctic Council working group scheme, the Canada-Inuit Nunangat UK Arctic research programme and a number of UK groups on Arctic marine science.