NATO defense ministers met in Brussels on February 13 to address increased defense readiness, deterrence capabilities, and support for Ukraine. Iceland pledged ISK 800 million [$5.6 million / €5.4 million] to Ukraine’s defense efforts.
Iceland needs to bolster its defense readiness, in line with other NATO member states, according to a press release by the Minister for Foreign Affairs published on the government’s website.
NATO defense ministers met in Brussels to discuss increased defense readiness, the alliance’s deterrence capabilities, and continued support for Ukraine.
It is clear that all alliance members are enhancing their defense preparedness and capabilities. We must do the same, in close cooperation with our closest allies. The meeting also made it clear that demands on European countries for increased contributions and investments will only grow, Foreign Minister Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir, who attended the meeting, is quoted as saying.
Þorgerður emphasised the importance of supporting Ukraine to strengthen its position and ensure that both Europe and Ukraine have a seat at the table in any future negotiations.
As I have previously stated, no discussions about Ukraine without Ukraine.
During the meeting, Þorgerður announced Iceland’s continued support for Ukraine.
This includes ISK 400 million [$2.8 million / €2.7 million] for a fund supporting demining efforts led jointly by Iceland and Lithuania and another ISK 400 million [$2.8 million / €2.7 million] for a Danish-led project to support Ukraine’s defense industry, the statement reads.
Þorgerður also held a meeting with Christopher G. Cavoli, NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe and commander of U.S. forces in Europe. Their discussions focused on NATO’s defense preparedness, Iceland’s contributions to collective defense, and developments in the North Atlantic and Arctic regions.
Earlier this year, Þorgerður met with government officials in Ukraine to assess the impact of Russia’s invasion in person and to emphasize Iceland’s continued support for Ukraine’s defense efforts. Last year, the government earmarked an additional ISK 1.5 billion [$11 million / €10 million] in the supplementary budget in support of Ukraine’s defense efforts.
Iceland has been a member of NATO since 1949, but has no standing army of its own. Up until 2006, the NATO base in Keflavík was occupied by the US Navy who saw to patrolling Iceland’s air space and national waters.
Since then, other NATO countries have participated in these patrols. While the US has been amongst them, this has also included NATO member states from Europe as well.
Finland became a NATO member state in April 2023. Aerotime reports that the Finns are wasting no time in fulfilling their obligations, either.
“The Finnish Air Force’s F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets will participate in training missions with the United States Air Force’s KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refueling aircraft from February 10 to 13, 2025,” Aerotime reports. “The primary objective of these air-to-air refueling (AAR) missions is to ensure Finnish fighter pilots gain, maintain, and renew their AAR qualifications.”
The commander of a Finnish air force squadron stationed in Iceland and conducting airspace patrol for the Atlantic Alliance says the presence marks an important milestone. However, the conditions for flying are completely different than at home.
The squadron has 50 personnel and this is the first time that the Finnish Air Force has conducted this mission off the coast of Iceland since Finland joined NATO in 2023.
The arrangement of the squadron's presence will be the same as in recent years and in accordance with the country's defense needs in peacetime.
The squadron consists of four Finnish F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets and is based in the security area at Keflavík Airport, along with air forces from NATO member states that are conducting anti-submarine warfare. The airspace patrol will end at the end of February.
Based on:
Iceland Must Strengthen Its Defences Says Foreign Minister / Iceland Review (14.02.2025),
Finns Patrolling Icelandic Air Space for the First Time / Iceland Review (14.02.2025),
Finnar í loftrýmisgæslu við Íslandsstrendur í fyrsta sinn / RÚV (11.02.2025, in Icelandic)
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