The nuclear submarine USS Newport News has made its first stop in Iceland, part of a U.S. plan to bolster Arctic defenses and deter Russia.
The Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine USS Newport News has docked in Reykjavik, marking the first time a U.S. nuclear submarine has visited Iceland. The move comes after the country's government approved the entry of such vessels into its territorial waters in 2023.
This was reported by Xataka.
The US military called the event a “definitive moment” that underscored the growing strategic importance of the Arctic and the GIUK (Greenland-Iceland-United Kingdom) corridor, a sea route through which Russian submarines regularly sail into the Atlantic, including the Yasen-class cruise missile boats.
Why is this important?
Iceland, which has no army of its own, is becoming a key NATO partner in ensuring security in the North Atlantic. During the Cold War, it hosted US military aircraft, and today its airspace is protected by P-8A Poseidons and NATO forces.
The arrival of the Newport News completes this defensive chain, especially after possible attacks on underwater infrastructure in the Baltics have raised questions about the vulnerability of cables and pipelines in northern Europe.
Russian activity in GIUK
Moscow is keenly aware of the importance of GIUK. In 2019, it conducted a major exercise involving 10 submarines that passed through the corridor in a submerged position to test the West’s ability to detect their maneuvers. The goal was to demonstrate the potential to strike the United States and deter NATO in the Arctic.
New phase of US force deployment
The submarine's visit is not only a symbolic step, but also an expansion of US operational capabilities in the region. Now American nuclear submarines will be able to receive logistical support closer to the theater of operations, without having to turn to bases in Scotland or Norway.
The USS Newport News has 12 vertical launch tubes for Tomahawk missiles, as well as anti-ship and anti-submarine warfare systems. Its presence is a clear signal of the U.S. intent to bolster Arctic security amid Russia’s activity near Finland and in the Barents Sea.
