Iceland and Germany are moving toward a significant expansion of their cooperation on defense and security in the North Atlantic and the Arctic. The backdrop is the threat from Russia, writes the German Ministry of Defense.
Recently, the Icelandic Defense Minister Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir (Liberal Reform Party) and the German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) signed a letter of intent on strengthened defense cooperation in both depth and breadth.
The agreement particularly focuses on further cooperation for strengthened surveillance and situational awareness at sea and in the air, especially in the North Atlantic region.
To put this into practice, Germany will increase its military presence in Iceland.
”We are ready to assume greater responsibility for stability and security in the High North. The German Navy will deploy its frigates, submarines and new maritime patrol aircraft for situational awareness in the North Atlantic,” says Pistorius.
More specifically, he outlines plans to utilize Iceland’s modern port infrastructure, its local logistics and supply opportunities, as well as Keflavík Air Station. Läs artikel