NATO exercise in Iceland ends better than expected

Northern Viking, a NATO defence exercise in Iceland, ended on Thursday and went better than expected, according to Marvin Ingólfsson, deputy director of the Icelandic Coast Guard’s defence division, mbl.is reported.

“The exercise has gone better than expected, if we may put it that way. As far as we know, it went well in every respect,” Ingólfsson said.

The Coast Guard had varied responsibilities and carried the main burden of the exercise on behalf of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs’ Defence Office, including preparation, execution and follow-up. Military-related exercises involving NATO countries took place in several locations across Iceland, with the Coast Guard involved in all of them in some way.

Different methods and equipment

Ingólfsson said multinational exercises such as Northern Viking provided significant benefits. He cited an exercise for first responders at Paterson Airport, where ten patients were simulated as needing transport to Keflavík. Icelandic and foreign responders worked together to transport the patients and receive them at the airport.

“There are, of course, various nations with different methods, procedures and equipment. It gives these people a great deal to work together and then discuss the different methods and equipment they use,” he said.

Ingólfsson said the Coast Guard’s personnel had gained experience from Northern Viking, particularly from organising an exercise of this scale.

The exercise began on 22 August and ended on Thursday. The Coast Guard’s work began two or three weeks before the exercise and will continue for a similar period afterwards, as personnel and equipment have to be received and sent away. The preparation process has taken almost two years.