The U.S. Navy’s nuclear-powered submarine USS Newport News, equipped with Tomahawk cruise missiles, has docked in Iceland for the first time—amid growing concerns in Washington and NATO over Russia’s military activity in the Arctic and High North.
The Commander of U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa emphasized that the submarine’s presence delivers a strategic message to adversaries and a reassurance to regional allies.
“For decades, the U.S. operated a naval base here and relied on Iceland to monitor Soviet and later Russian submarine operations,” the commander said, adding that Iceland’s geographic location remains vital to U.S. Arctic strategy.
The Pentagon’s 2024 Arctic Strategy highlights the importance of the Greenland–UK corridor, where the U.S. aims to maintain a strong presence in response to increasing Russian and Chinese military ambitions.
Erin Sawyer, Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Iceland, added:
“Washington and Reykjavik share a common goal of keeping tensions low in the Arctic, while remaining fully aware of Russia’s efforts to reinforce its military footprint in the region.”
Unlike in 2023, when a U.S. nuclear submarine entered Icelandic waters without docking, this time the USS Newport News berthed directly at the pier, allowing the crew to come ashore—marking a significant step in regional military signaling.
Part of the Los Angeles-class fleet, the USS Newport News belongs to one of the fastest and most critical attack submarine classes in the U.S. Navy, with about 40 vessels currently in active service.
