The U.S. Navy’s Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine USS Newport News made a landmark visit to Reykjavik on Wednesday, becoming the first nuclear-powered submarine to make a port call in Iceland. The visit underscores escalating geopolitical tensions in the Arctic and reinforces Iceland’s pivotal role as a forward base for U.S. and NATO operations aimed at countering Russian maritime threats.

“Today’s port visit is a pivotal moment, underscoring our unwavering commitment to collective defense and Arctic security,” said Adm. Stuart B. Munsch, head of U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa. He emphasized the submarine’s value in deterring threats in an “increasingly complex and contested world.”

Iceland Reopens to Nuclear Subs

Iceland only began allowing nuclear-powered submarines into its territorial waters in 2023, after decades of policy restrictions. While U.S. submarines had previously conducted offshore crew exchanges, this is the first full service call—a move Iceland’s Foreign Ministry (MFA) said strengthens continuous surveillance of the region and enhances protection for vital underwater infrastructure such as submarine cables.

Growing alarm over undersea sabotage—especially after last year’s suspected Russian attacks in the Baltic—has made cable security a national concern for Iceland and a NATO priority.

Strategic Location in the GIUK Gap

Located at the center of the Greenland-Iceland-UK (GIUK) gap, Iceland offers unparalleled strategic value in tracking Russian submarines, particularly those from the Northern Fleet based in Murmansk. Submarines like the Yasen-M class Kazan routinely pass through this corridor en route to the Atlantic, where they pose a threat to NATO’s eastern seaboard.

During Cold War years, the U.S. maintained a major air defense and maritime patrol presence at Keflavik Air Base. While the base downsized post-Cold War, U.S. P-8A Poseidon aircraft still rotate through, and NATO fighter detachments continue to provide air defense for the country.

Regional Security Coordination Expands

Erin Sawyer, Chargé d’affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Iceland, described the submarine’s arrival as proof of “deep coordination” between the allies. “The United States and Iceland maintain the shared goal of low tension in the Arctic,” she added, but noted that awareness of Russia’s military buildup was growing.

With Iceland now hosting full submarine port calls, the U.S. Navy gains a northern logistics node far closer than alternatives like Scotland’s Clyde Naval Base or Norway’s Grøtsund harbor—roughly 700 and 900 miles away, respectively.

The USS Newport News, equipped with 12 Vertical Launch System (VLS) tubes for Tomahawk cruise missiles, brings not only firepower but also advanced surveillance and anti-submarine capabilities to the region.

A Broader Arctic Posture

The port call follows similar steps to increase U.S. strategic flexibility in the Arctic. In 2019, the U.S. Air Force deployed B-2 stealth bombers to Iceland for the first time, a move once seen as improbable due to infrastructure limits. That deployment demonstrated a shift in U.S. strategy toward utilizing austere but geographically vital staging points.

The MFA confirmed that more visits may follow: “The frequency of visits will depend on the need at each time.”