International forces gather in Iceland for Northern Viking 2024 defence exercise
The Northern Viking 2024 defence exercise will kick off in Iceland on Monday, focusing on improving cooperation and readiness between the U.S., Iceland, and Allied nations.
The recurring exercise brings together forces to practise protecting infrastructure, securing key sea routes, and enhancing search and rescue operations. It also aims to strengthen coordination among various Icelandic agencies.
Northern Viking has been a regular event since 1982, and is rooted in the 1951 Defence Agreement between the two countries where the U.S. took on the responsibility of defending Iceland, a country without its own military.
This year’s exercise will see military forces from the United States, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, and Portugal coming together. Their ships and aircraft, along with units from the Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG1)—a multinational naval force operating under NATO—will play a key role in the exercise.
Most of the activities will take place around Keflavík Air Base.
Particular focus on Greenland-Iceland-UK gap in North Atlantic
In a news release on Friday, the Government of Iceland said a main focus of the exercise is securing key sea routes in the Greenland-Iceland-UK (GIUK) gap. The gap is a vital stretch of ocean between the three countries that’s crucial for controlling naval and air traffic in the North Atlantic.
Other scenarios will range from military threats on land, sea, and air to challenges like sabotage.
Events during the exercise will include an amphibious landing, construction and expeditionary activities, as well as search and rescue operations and humanitarian assistance.
Around 1,200 participants are expected, with about 200 coming from Iceland’s Department for Defence, Coast Guard, National Police, and other local agencies.
Comments, tips or story ideas? Contact Eilís at eilis.quinn(at)cbc.ca
Related stories from around the North:
Canada:Canada pledges billions for defence, falls short of NATO’s 2%, CBC News
Denmark:Denmark’s Arctic, North Atlantic focus: Canada among new defence attaché posts, Eye on the Arctic
Finland:Finland in talks to host NATO Troops in Lapland to strengthen northern defense, Yle News
Iceland: RAF Squadron begins NATO airspace patrols in Iceland, Eye on the Arctic
Norway:Against Russian aggression: Norway signs security agreement with Ukraine, The Independent Barents Observer
Russia: Russia signs MoU with Chinese navy, The Independent Barents Observer
United States: US Army sends heavy equipment to Arctic Norwegian port for transfer to Finland, The Independent Barents Observer
