Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on 7 October 2026 that the United States is open to deepening security cooperation with Iceland, citing the country's critical geographic position in the North Atlantic and growing threats across the Arctic, including risks to undersea cables and shipping lanes. Rubio made the remarks during a joint media availability with Icelandic Foreign Minister Thorgerdur Katrin Gunnarsdottir in Reykjavik.

What Rubio Said

'We would be open to having those conversations to see what more we can do together,' Rubio said. 'I know there's interest in doing more together. And obviously, if there's opportunities that make sense for both countries, it's something we would pursue.'

Rubio stressed that any expanded cooperation would be pursued in full consultation with Icelandic officials. 'We would never do anything without cooperating with officials here about what's available,' he said. He added that Iceland could contribute infrastructure, technology, surveillance capabilities and domain awareness to wider collective security efforts.

Why the Arctic Is Back in Focus

The remarks come as Washington sharpens its strategic attention on the High North — a region that has gained renewed geopolitical salience due to both conventional and non-conventional threats. Rubio flagged concerns about 'irregular measures, covert measures,' as well as threats to undersea cables and shipping lanes that have direct implications for national security.

'There are direct threats and those threats in the 21st century aren't just military threats. They're also economic commercial threats that have implications on the national security of our respective countries,' he said.

The US maintained an enduring military presence in Iceland until 2006, when forces were reallocated to other regions. Rubio acknowledged the world had changed substantially since then. 'The reality of it is the world has changed over the last 20 years,' he said. 'There's a lot of focus on the Arctic. I think Iceland plays a very critical role in the defense of NATO writ large.'

Iceland's Strategic Importance

Iceland is a founding member of NATO but does not maintain a traditional standing military. Its position astride the GIUK Gap — the stretch of ocean between Greenland, Iceland, and the United Kingdom — has historically made it indispensable for transatlantic surveillance, anti-submarine operations, and maritime security.

The US–Iceland bilateral defence agreement, signed in 1951, has long underpinned this relationship, providing Washington access to Icelandic facilities and enabling joint operations across the North Atlantic. Rubio's visit also followed a separate agreement involving the US, Greenland, and Denmark, underscoring a broader American push to lock in Arctic partnerships.

'I think Iceland and its location plays a critical role in the defense both of Europe, but also of the homeland of the United States because of geography,' Rubio said.

What Comes Next

No specific agreements were announced during Rubio's visit, and the language remained deliberately open-ended — signalling intent without committing to a timeline or troop numbers. Analysts will watch whether this leads to a formal renegotiation of the 1951 defence agreement or new basing arrangements. With NATO allies increasingly alert to hybrid threats across the Arctic, Iceland's role as a surveillance and logistics hub is likely to feature prominently in upcoming alliance discussions.