A U.S. Navy nuclear submarine arrived in Iceland for the first time on Wednesday. A senior admiral stated that the presence of USS Newport News sent a message to America’s adversaries.
The first stop in Iceland for the USS Newport News attack submarine from the Los Angeles class took place as the United States and NATO allies are increasingly concerned about the escalating Russian military activity in the Arctic and the Far North.
Admiral Stuart Munsch, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, told Business Insider that it is important for Washington to have various options in the area where American submarines can make port calls, and for the United States to maintain a strong presence in the region stretching from Greenland to Iceland and the United Kingdom. This is a key point mentioned in the Pentagon's 2024 Arctic strategy, he emphasized.
A Message to U.S. Rivals
Munsch stated that the submarine's visit to the Nordic port was "important for the strategic signal it sends to adversaries regarding our presence in the area" and for the security it provides to U.S. allies.
The U.S. considers Iceland a central piece in its Arctic strategy due to its strategic position.
The island nation joined NATO as a founding member in 1949, but unlike other alliance members, it does not have an army. However, it hosted Western troops during the Cold War, including a major American presence.
"The U.S. maintained a naval air base here for many decades" and relied on resources stationed in the country, "to track Soviet submarine operations, then Russian submarine operations," the admiral said about Iceland.
The strategy referenced by Munsch highlights Russia's increasing military and economic interest in the Arctic, but also draws attention to China's efforts to expand its influence in the region. The U.S. views Iceland as a key element in its security and deterrence efforts, as these two rivals of America seek to project their power in the strategic area.
Erin Sawyer, charge d'affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Iceland, stated in a release on Wednesday that Washington and Reykjavik "share the common goal of maintaining low tension in the Arctic, fully aware of Russia's efforts to strengthen its military presence in the region."
Something New for Iceland
The U.S. Navy has been collaborating with the Icelandic government for many years, mostly from a distance. For example, an American ship can anchor off the coast and change personnel or bring supplies on board.
In 2023, Iceland received its first American nuclear-powered submarine in its territorial waters. However, the arrival of Newport News this week was a different event. The submarine was docked at a pier, and crew members disembarked on shore, marking a new moment in this relationship, the admiral said.
USS Newport News, a Los Angeles-class submarine from the late '80s, is equipped with cruise missiles and Tomahawk torpedoes and has carried out missions worldwide.
Just over 40 Los Angeles-class submarines are in active service, comprising a significant part of the Navy's fast-attack submarine fleet. However, the newer Virginia-class vessels have taken on an increasingly important role, as reported by the American publication.
Submarines are considered a crucial element of the U.S. naval force. "The submarine force has operated globally for many decades, and there is no region that has ever been ceded to anyone else," Munsch emphasized.
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