The nuclear attack submarine USS Newport News arrived in Reykjavik, Iceland on 9/7, marking the first time a nuclear submarine has docked in the country, the US Navy announced.
Iceland began allowing foreign nuclear submarines into its territorial waters in 2023, but none had docked until now.
US Charge d'Affaires Erin Sawyer emphasized the shared goal of reducing tensions in the Arctic, referencing Russia's increased military presence in the region. "Close coordination with Iceland, a trusted NATO ally, enabled this historic visit, demonstrating our commitment to freedom of navigation and the security of our allies," she said.
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USS Newport News arrives in Reykjavik, Iceland on 9/7. Photo: US Navy |
USS Newport News arrives in Reykjavik, Iceland on 9/7. Photo: US Navy
The Arctic is becoming an increasing point of potential conflict, with several countries investing heavily in military resources there. Western media reports indicate a significant increase in Russian submarine activity in the Arctic in recent years.
Iceland’s strategic location has long made it an important outpost for the US.
In 1954, the US deployed the 57th Fighter Interceptor Squadron to Keflavik Air Base in Iceland for 24/7 alert. During the Cold War, the US also stationed anti-submarine patrol aircraft at Keflavik to monitor Soviet submarines. After the Cold War, US P-8A squadrons have also been deployed on a rotational basis to Iceland.
Iceland lies within the GIUK gap, which separates the Norwegian Sea and the North Sea from the Atlantic Ocean, and is named after Greenland, Iceland, and the United Kingdom. This area is close to the Kola Peninsula, home to the headquarters of Russia's Northern Fleet.
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Location of the GIUK gap. Graphic: BB |
Location of the GIUK gap. Graphic: BB
Howard Altman, editor of the US military website War Zone, commented, "Submarines of the Northern Fleet, based in Murmansk, transit on both sides of the GIUK gap. This makes Iceland a critical location for tracking Russian submarines before they disappear into the Atlantic and approach the east coast of the US."
The USS Newport News is a Los Angeles-class submarine, the US Navy's current primary attack submarine. The vessel is 110 m long, 10 m wide, and displaces nearly 7,000 tons when submerged. It is equipped with 4 torpedo tubes and carries 37 weapons, including Mark 48 ADCAP torpedoes, Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles, Harpoon anti-ship missiles, and mines.
Nguyen Tien (War Zone, AFP, AP)
