Iceland hosts Arctic Allies

On 9 October, the Chiefs of Defence of Iceland, Canada, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Sweden and the United States met in Keflavík, Iceland, to discuss priorities and perspectives in relation to the security situation in the Arctic.

As the strategic importance of the Arctic continues to grow, the Chiefs of Defence discussed opportunities for increased regional cooperation, including in response to challenges brought about by climate change, economic activities and increased maritime traffic. Two and a half years following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, they also discussed increased Russian military build-up and the importance of maintaining situational awareness in the region.

These key annual meetings between close Allies serve to coordinate and deepen partnerships and strengthen shared situational awareness. Iceland hosted the meeting, chaired by the Director General of Iceland’s Directorate for Defence, which is part of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.