U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has begun a three-nation tour of NATO allies with a visit to Iceland, where Washington is seeking closer security cooperation in the Arctic while lingering concerns remain over President Donald Trump’s ambitions in the region.
Rubio arrived in Reykjavík on Monday and held talks with Icelandic officials on Tuesday, including Foreign Minister Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir and Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir. His tour will also take him to Greece and Portugal before he returns to Washington.
Iceland’s strategic importance is growing
Rubio described Iceland as a critical location for the security of both the North Atlantic and the Arctic.
Speaking alongside Gunnarsdóttir, he said the United States wanted to continue cooperating with Iceland as military, economic and infrastructure threats in the High North increase.
“Iceland sits at the center of many of the questions surrounding the security and defence of our shared region,” Rubio said. He added that Washington was open to discussions about expanding cooperation.
Iceland's geographic position makes it strategically important for monitoring activity across the North Atlantic. Its location also provides access to air and sea routes connecting North America, Europe and the Arctic.
The United States maintained a permanent military presence at Keflavík until 2006, but American military aircraft and other forces continue to operate from Iceland periodically. Rubio visited Keflavík Air Base during his trip, including a U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft used to monitor submarine activity.
Trump’s Greenland policy created unease
The visit comes after months of uncertainty surrounding Trump's Arctic ambitions.
Trump had repeatedly expressed interest in acquiring Greenland, an autonomous territory of NATO member Denmark, and at various points threatened that the United States could take control of the territory.
Those statements caused concern among European allies, particularly in the Nordic region.
Iceland was also drawn into the controversy after Trump shared an AI-generated map showing the U.S. flag across North America, Greenland and Iceland. Iceland's government summoned the American ambassador and described the post as unacceptable.
The episode added to existing concerns about Washington's intentions toward the Arctic and the sovereignty of Nordic countries.
Rubio seeks to reassure Iceland
Rubio attempted to ease those concerns during his meetings in Reykjavík.
He stressed that Washington respected Iceland's sovereignty and said the United States would not expand its activities there without Iceland's cooperation.
The message was welcomed by Icelandic officials, who indicated that the recent tensions appeared to be easing.
Gunnarsdóttir said Iceland was now focused on the future, while Rubio described the discussions as positive.
The two countries also agreed on the importance of strengthening military and commercial ties as Arctic security becomes increasingly significant.
Iceland has no standing military and relies on NATO and its defence agreement with the United States for security.
Arctic competition is intensifying
The renewed U.S. focus on Iceland comes as competition in the Arctic increases.
Russia maintains significant military capabilities in the region, while China has also sought a greater economic and strategic presence.
For Washington and NATO, the Arctic has become increasingly important for monitoring Russian military movements, protecting undersea infrastructure and securing vital North Atlantic routes.
Rubio said the strategic environment had changed significantly since the United States ended its permanent military presence in Iceland.
“The world has changed over the last 20 years,” he said, noting that Washington's focus on the Arctic has increased.
A recent security agreement involving the United States, Denmark and Greenland is also expected to increase the American military presence in the Arctic.
That makes Iceland's position even more important because logistics supporting Greenland can pass through Iceland.
Rubio continues to Greece and Portugal
Iceland is the first stop on Rubio's three-country NATO tour.
He travelled to Greece later Tuesday, where he is expected to discuss security, energy and economic cooperation with Greek officials and deliver a speech on democracy.
His final stop will be Portugal, before he returns to the United States on Thursday.
The tour comes as the Trump administration attempts to strengthen relationships with NATO allies while simultaneously pursuing a more assertive strategy in the Arctic.
For Iceland, the immediate priority appears to be maintaining its sovereignty while taking advantage of increased international attention on its strategically important location.
For Washington, Rubio's visit signals that Iceland is becoming an increasingly important part of U.S. and NATO efforts to secure the North Atlantic and Arctic regions.
