US sends no ships or aircraft to Iceland’s North Viking drill

The United States will not send ships or aircraft to this year’s North Viking anti-submarine exercise in Iceland because of temporary demands elsewhere in the world, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, according to mbl.is.

Speaking at a press conference with Icelandic Foreign Minister Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir at the Culture House, Rubio said global developments required the United States to redistribute personnel and equipment. He cited the war with Iran and the need to protect shipping routes, as well as changes in the Indo-Pacific. The United States has still sent personnel to the exercise.

The United States is reviewing its military presence in several parts of the world, particularly Europe, and has indicated it wants to reduce its forces in European NATO countries. Þorgerður Katrín said Rubio had explained earlier that morning why the United States needed to move personnel and equipment in response to global circumstances.