Amid escalating tensions in the Arctic region, the US Navy Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Newport News (SSN 750) arrived in Reykjavik, Iceland on Wednesday. This marks the first visit of a US nuclear-powered submarine to Iceland, a move seen as a signal to the US’s adversaries. Iceland only started allowing nuclear-powered submarines into its territorial waters in 2023.
“This port visit today is a critical moment in demonstrating our steadfast commitment to collective defense and Arctic security,” said US Navy Europe and Africa Command (NAVEUR/NAVAF) Commander Admiral Stuart B. Munsch in a statement. “Our submarine force is advanced and essential to ensuring the security of our nation and allies, capable of patrolling the deep seas and providing deterrence in an increasingly complex and competitive world.”
The Arctic region is increasingly becoming a potential hotspot as countries invest heavily in military resources there. With Russia and China’s activities in the Arctic growing, the US expresses concerns for the security of the region.
US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires in Iceland, Erin Sawyer, stated, “The US and Iceland are committed to reducing tensions in the Arctic region and are fully aware of Russia’s efforts to strengthen its military presence in the area. We have engaged in deep coordination with our outstanding NATO ally Iceland, facilitating this historic visit, demonstrating our commitment to freedom of navigation and the security of our allies in the region.”
Admiral Munsch, in a phone interview with Business Insider from Reykjavik, highlighted the importance of the submarine’s port call as it sends a strategic signal to adversaries and provides reassurance to US allies.
The US regards Iceland as a key player in Arctic strategy due to its geographic location, serving as a longstanding strategic outpost for the US. Iceland joined NATO as a founding member in 1949, albeit being the only NATO member without a military. During the Cold War, Iceland hosted Western military forces, including a significant US presence.
“For decades, the US has maintained a naval air base here,” said Munsch about Iceland, relying on the military forces stationed in Iceland to track submarine actions from the Soviet Union and later Russia.
He emphasized the significance of having more robust options for port calls, enabling the US military to maintain a strong presence from Greenland to Iceland, as well as the UK and other areas.
This visit aligns with a key point in the Pentagon’s 2024 Arctic strategy, which outlines Russia’s growing military and economic interests in the Arctic, as well as China’s efforts to expand influence in the region. The US views Iceland as a crucial element in its security and deterrence efforts as both adversaries seek to project power in this strategic area.
In 2023, Iceland welcomed its first US nuclear-powered submarine into its territorial waters. However, Munsch noted that the arrival of USS Newport News in port this week, along with the docking and the crew going ashore, marks a new stage in the relationship between the two countries.
Fast-attack submarines serve as versatile multi-mission platforms capable of fulfilling five of the US Navy’s six key maritime strategy core capabilities – sea control, power projection, forward presence, maritime security, and deterrence. They excel in anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, strike warfare, special operations, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, unconventional warfare, and mine warfare. Fast-attack submarines leverage special operations forces and Tomahawk cruise missiles to project power ashore, preventing or addressing regional crises.
Underwater capabilities are considered the cornerstone of US naval strength. “The submarine force has been operating globally for decades,” said Munsch, emphasizing, “We have never ceded any region to anyone.”