NATO Military Committee visits Iceland
On 1-3 June 2026, the NATO Military Committee, led by its Deputy Chair (DCMC), Lieutenant General Winston P. Brooks, visited Iceland, including the NATO Radar and Communication site in Bolungarvík.
Welcoming the Military Committee to Iceland, Chief of Defence Jónas G. Allansson emphasized the growing importance of Allied cooperation in the North and steps Iceland has taken to deepening its response to shared security challenges. "Iceland remains committed to hosting and enabling Allied operations while contributing to NATO’s situational awareness in the GIUK Gap. The visit of the Military Committee provides a valuable opportunity to demonstrate how Iceland actively supports our collective defence and strengthens Alliance cohesion,” said Allansson.
The Deputy Chair, Lieutenant General Brooks, said of the visit: "NATO is navigating a demanding and rapidly changing security environment. In our visit to Iceland, the Military Committee has seen how Iceland is stepping up its contribution to the Alliance‘s posture in the North Atlantic and Arctic, here at the heart of the GIUK Gap as the eyes and the ears of NATO in the North. The visit has also given us a first-hand look at Icelandic companies at the forefront of dual-use innovation that plays a crucial role for the Alliance technological edge.”
Lieutenant General Brooks furthermore praised Iceland’s commitment in supporting NATO Air Surveillance mission and its importance in the High North. “The Control and Reporting Center Keflavik has a crucial role to feed the recognized air picture into the NATO Integrated Air and Missile Defence – IAMD – system. It ensures the integrity of our airspace against current air threats,” said DCMC Brooks.
During the visit, NATO Military Representatives were briefed on Iceland’s defence cooperation, the new Defence and Security Policy, capability development, and visited several Icelandic companies at the cutting edge of technological innovation.
As a founding NATO member, Iceland has helped secure the Alliance for more than 75 years by providing host nation support to allied operations, contributing to situational awareness, and through the contribution of training, advice and assistance to NATO’s missions and operations.
The visit to Iceland gave the Military Committee clear views on the NATO ally capabilities and importance to the Alliance, the strategic importance of Iceland and its efforts in ensuring NATO unity and strength. This visit is part of Military Committee continuous assessment of ongoing work strands and progress in strengthening NATO warfighting capabilities, in fields like missile defence, long-range strike capabilities, drones, ammunitions, and stockpiles.