On the edge of the Arctic, Iceland plays host to an annual gathering of NATO nations for the Northern Viking exercise. Since 1982, this event has been shaped by the 1951 defence agreement between Iceland and the United States, but it has grown to include wider multinational participation. The exercise is a public demonstration of alliance readiness and the strategic importance of Iceland in North Atlantic security.
Testing teamwork across land, sea and air
Northern Viking brings together a diverse group of military assets and personnel. In recent years, these have included not only the Icelandic Coast Guard (Landhelgisgæsla Íslands) but also forces from the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Norway, Denmark, Canada and other NATO countries. The operations typically cover air defence, maritime surveillance, anti-submarine warfare and specialist missions, such as anti-terrorist training and boarding of suspect vessels.
One of the recurring focuses is interoperability, the ability of different nations’ military equipment, personnel, and procedures to work together in real-world scenarios. For example, aircraft of various origin, like US Air Force F-16 and F-15 fighters, Royal Norwegian Air Force F-16s, Royal Canadian Air Force CF-18s, and Eurofighter Typhoons, have operated from Icelandic bases in the same exercises. Refuelling support has been provided by KC-135 planes, and large E-3 AWACS aircraft contribute to airborne surveillance and command efforts.
A centre for Arctic security
The exercise is more than symbolic for Iceland, as it does not have its own army, relying instead on the Coast Guard and international agreements for its defence. Northern Viking evolving from a biennial to an annual routine after 2006 highlights Iceland’s increasing significance, especially with Arctic operations gaining importance as climate and geopolitical conditions shift.
In 2022, Northern Viking brought naval vessels like the Icelandic Coast Guard’s ICGV Þór, American ships USS Arlington and USS Kearsarge, Norway’s HNoMS Thor Heyerdahl, Germany’s FGS Sachsen, France’s FS Latouche-Tréville, and British Royal Marine Commandos into joint manoeuvres. Their activities ranged from “hunt for adversary submarines” to “visit, board, search and seizure” on vessels deemed a security concern.
Anti-terrorism, airlift, search-and-rescue and large-scale maritime surveillance remain central elements. Exercises have involved special units from Denmark, Norway and Latvia working alongside Iceland’s own Víkingasveitin, the country’s elite police tactical unit. These activities on and around the island not only reinforce military readiness but also develop personal connections between nations’ servicemembers.
With foreign troops temporarily deployed to Iceland’s airfields and harbours, Northern Viking illuminates how this island in the North Atlantic, while lacking a regular army, sits at a crossroads of modern geopolitics and military cooperation.
Sources
- Wikipedia
- Wikipedia (Icelandic) in Icelandic
