NATO commander signals increased military presence around Iceland

NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe Alexus G. Grynkewich has told Icelandic leaders to expect increased military activity around Iceland, mbl.is reports. He discussed NATO’s enhanced defence readiness, security developments in the Arctic and Icelandic and United States defence cooperation with Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir and Foreign Minister Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir.

Grynkewich is in Iceland for the Northern Viking defence exercise, which is taking place with the participation of Iceland, the United States and other NATO countries.

Iceland’s location remains strategically important

Grynkewich said in a brief conversation with media that Iceland’s location continued to play a key role in the alliance’s defence. Asked whether the changing international situation meant Iceland was in a more vulnerable position than before, and whether a permanent military presence would provide greater security, he said it did not.

However, he said Icelanders could expect increased military activity in the country.

“We have had a presence around Iceland more or less continuously recently, both in terms of submarine defence at Keflavík and air surveillance by NATO countries around Iceland. Looking ahead, I think the military presence around Iceland will increase, even if there is no permanent military base with troops stationed here,” Grynkewich said.

“The reason is that Iceland’s location is extremely important from a military perspective, and therefore I think Icelanders can expect increased military activity around the country.”

One of NATO’s senior commanders

Grynkewich is a general in the United States Air Force and became NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe, known as SACEUR, in July last year. He succeeded Christopher G. Cavoli. Grynkewich is also head of United States European Command.

The position is one of the most powerful in NATO’s military command structure. Grynkewich leads the alliance’s operational command and is responsible for planning and carrying out its military operations. He is the 21st person to hold the position. Dwight D. Eisenhower, who later became president of the United States, was the first.

Grynkewich is a former fighter pilot and previously served as director of operations for the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff. In recent times, he has among other things emphasised greater responsibility for European countries and Canada in Europe’s conventional defence, alongside continued United States support.

Talks focused on changing security situation

Grynkewich’s meetings with the ministers covered the security outlook and NATO’s increased defence readiness. They also discussed developments in the Arctic and growing bilateral defence cooperation between Iceland and the United States.

“We had a good conversation about the situation following the summit in Ankara and the alliance’s increased defence readiness, now that all countries are strengthening their own capabilities to address the changing security situation. We also reviewed the close and strong defence cooperation between Iceland and the United States,” Kristrún Frostadóttir said in a statement from the Icelandic government.

Þorgerður Katrín said Iceland was dealing with a new security environment.

“Iceland has been working systematically to strengthen its own defence and resilience. It was important to have a good conversation with Grynkewich about these issues, how we can increase our participation within NATO and further strengthen cooperation with the United States, particularly now that European countries and Canada are increasing their contribution,” she said.

Northern Viking is a bilateral defence exercise involving Iceland and the United States.