After Greenland, Is Iceland Next? Rubio lands in Reykjavik, US looking for more military bases to dominate Arctic?
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Reykjavik on Monday, October 5, 2026, for talks focused on economic and security collaboration with Icelandic officials. The visit is the first stop on a short European tour that continues to Athens and Lisbon. It comes two weeks after the United States, Denmark, and Greenland signed a security pact that allows Washington to establish two new military bases on Greenland and expand its existing presence there.
That deal effectively ended months of tension over President Donald Trump’s earlier suggestions of buying or annexing Greenland. Attention has now turned to Iceland, the other key node in the strategically vital Greenland-Iceland-United Kingdom (GIUK) gap.
Will There Be US Military Bases in Iceland Now?
Iceland has had no permanent foreign military base since the United States closed Naval Air Station Keflavik in 2006. The country maintains no standing army of its own and relies on the 1951 bilateral defense agreement with the United States plus its founding membership in NATO.
Current arrangements involve continuous rotations rather than permanent basing:US and other NATO anti-submarine aircraft (such as P-8 Poseidons) operate from Keflavik on a near-continuous basis.
In August 2026, during Exercise Northern Viking, NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe, Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, stated that while there would be no permanent basing of troops, continuous rotations of Alliance personnel—including Americans—would continue “for the foreseeable future.” He also expressed interest in strengthening infrastructure at Keflavik, ports, sensors, and radar stations.
Icelandic Foreign Minister Thorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir has said her government wants closer cooperation on defense and security, alongside business and energy ties. Officials describe Iceland as receptive to deeper collaboration while remaining protective of its independence.
No public proposals for new permanent bases have emerged from the Rubio meetings or preceding discussions so far. However the emphasis remains on enhanced presence through rotations, exercises, intelligence sharing, and infrastructure upgrades at existing facilities rather than the kind of new permanent “defense areas” agreed for Greenland.
Europe’s Response
European reactions to the recent US Arctic moves have been largely positive once the Greenland deal was finalized, though earlier Trump rhetoric had caused significant strain. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte welcomed the Greenland agreement, saying greater security in the Arctic and North Atlantic is essential for both Europe and North America and that the pact, alongside NATO’s growing role, enhances collective security.
French President Emmanuel Macron called it a “good thing,” noting that Danish sovereignty and international law were respected—the key European red lines during earlier tensions.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz described it as “good news for the security of Greenland” that strengthens the NATO partnership and security in the High North.
The UK and other allies issued similar supportive statements. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also welcomed the agreement and reaffirmed the EU’s close work with Denmark, Greenland, and partners.
Earlier in 2026, Trump’s annexation talk had prompted joint European statements defending Danish and Greenlandic sovereignty, temporary military deployments to the region by some European countries, and concerns about NATO cohesion. The final pact was widely viewed as a diplomatic off-ramp that preserved sovereignty while expanding US (and by extension Allied) military access under a NATO-friendly framework.
No major European pushback has been reported specifically against Rubio’s Iceland visit. It is being treated as standard high-level engagement with a key Arctic and North Atlantic ally. European countries have themselves been increasing activity in the High North through initiatives such as the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force (which held a ministerial meeting at Keflavik in early October) and calls for stronger NATO presence in the Arctic.
The Arctic Race
The United States is consolidating its Arctic security posture after the Greenland breakthrough, and Iceland’s location makes deeper cooperation logical. European governments, after weathering earlier sovereignty disputes, have largely accepted the Greenland outcome as beneficial for collective NATO security and are watching the Iceland talks without public alarm.
The Arctic is considered a modern day sea silk route which has all the big powers vying for control, Russia already dominates the region with Europe too geographically well placed. China has massively increased its presence in the region and India too is now joining up. As the ice thaws and technology improves the routes through the region would open up immense possibilities, as well as gaining direct access to its vast mineral wealth.
The US has shown that it is in no mood to be left behind in this race, a deal has already been done with Greenland, Canada is Already being encouraged by Trump and Co to become the 51st state of the USA and now America has its eyes fixed on Iceland, whether this too will have the same result as Greenland only time Will tell however knowing the US’ geostrategic desires, it will leave no stone unturned in Making it happen.
