NATO’s Northern Viking Exercise Proceeds Without U.S. Ships, Allies Step Up

Allied forces gathered off Iceland in August for the annual “Northern Viking” exercise, focusing on detecting and tracking Russian nuclear-powered submarines that transit the GIUK Gap (the maritime corridor between Greenland, Iceland and the United Kingdom). For the first time in decades, no U.S. warships or combat aircraft took part in the naval segment. The operation was commanded by French Rear Admiral Nicolas Molitor and included German maritime-surveillance aircraft, Canadian warships, Belgian fighter jets, and a French frigate. U.S. involvement was limited to construction crews building facilities at Keflavík Airport and assistance in exercise planning.

Politico: US Absence From NATO Exercise in Iceland Reflects Diminishing Washington Role NATO Holds Northern Viking Drill Off Iceland Without US Forces Near Iceland, NATO exercises were held for the first time without the USA NATO conducted exercises for the first time to defend against russia's nuclear-powered submarines without U.S. participation - Politico

Since the Cold War, the United States has led Northern Viking, using the drills to demonstrate NATO’s collective ability to protect the North Atlantic. A shift began during the second Trump administration, when the president’s rhetoric about seizing Greenland and his broader “America First” stance signaled a reduced American commitment to Arctic security. By 2024 most U.S. naval assets were redeployed to the Middle East and the Caribbean, leaving European and Canadian forces to assume a larger role. Concurrently, Russian naval activity has intensified, with Moscow deploying stealthy submarines through the GIUK Gap and conducting hybrid operations across Europe.

Politico: US Absence From NATO Exercise in Iceland Reflects Diminishing Washington Role NATO Holds Northern Viking Drill Off Iceland Without US Forces PoliticoNear Iceland, NATO exercises were held for the first time without the USA

Iceland’s defence chief Jónas Allansson emphasized that Europe and Canada are “stepping up” to fill the gap left by the United States, noting the strategic importance of the Icelandic location for monitoring Russian submarine movements. French Rear Admiral Molitor highlighted the continued solidarity among NATO members, stating that allied ships are “never alone” and that the exercise tests the alliance’s ability to share information in harsh Arctic conditions.

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• Participating nations: France (command), Germany (reconnaissance aircraft), Canada (warships), Belgium (fighter jets), Lithuania (submarine-search planes).

NATO conducted exercises for the first time to defend against russia's nuclear-powered submarines without U.S. participation - Politico

• U.S. contribution: engineering crews constructing new facilities at Keflavík Airport; planners assisted in exercise design.

Politico: US Absence From NATO Exercise in Iceland Reflects Diminishing Washington Role

• Operational focus: detection of Russian nuclear-capable submarines transiting the GIUK Gap; monitoring of undersea cables and pipelines.

Politico: US Absence From NATO Exercise in Iceland Reflects Diminishing Washington Role

The GIUK Gap remains a critical chokepoint for Russian naval access to the Atlantic, and control of this corridor directly influences the security of trans-Atlantic shipping lanes and undersea infrastructure. By conducting the exercise without U.S. leadership, NATO signals that European and Canadian forces can independently safeguard the region, a message aimed at both Moscow and domestic audiences concerned about American reliability. The drills also serve as a test of interoperability among allies in the Arctic’s demanding environment, reinforcing collective defense commitments under Article 5 of the NATO treaty.

Politico: US Absence From NATO Exercise in Iceland Reflects Diminishing Washington Role

• “These types of exercises are what persistent presence in the North Atlantic is built on,” — The NATO

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• “Every Amazon order you do in Germany runs through these cables,” — German Navy CommanderPeter Flohr

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• “We are seeing Europe and Canada step up, and we literally see it here in Iceland,” — Jónas Allansson

NATO Holds Northern Viking Drill Off Iceland Without US Forces

• “We see Europe and Canada stepping up, and we literally see it here in Iceland,” — Jonas Allansson

Near Iceland, NATO exercises were held for the first time without the USA