Rubio visits Iceland as US boosts Arctic presence
Washington has no permanent base in Iceland but seeks to consolidate control over Arctic routes coveted by Russia and China.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to travel to Iceland on Monday to further US interests in the Arctic, following the signing of a security pact between the US, Denmark, and Greenland in late September. During his visit, Rubio will meet with officials in Reykjavik to discuss economic and security collaboration. This symbolic and political trip comes after the US addressed President Donald Trump's threats to buy or annex Greenland, which strained relations with the EU.
With increased competition in the Arctic, Iceland has regained strategic importance, relying heavily on the United States for security. In September, Trump sparked controversy by sharing an AI-generated map that positioned North America, the Caribbean, Greenland, and Iceland as the United States of America, leading Iceland to summon the US ambassador to express concern.
Iceland has not had a military since gaining independence in 1944 and relies on NATO and a bilateral defense pact with the US for its security.
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