Reykjavik, Iceland — NATO naval and air forces are participating in Exercise Northern Viking 26 in and around Iceland to strengthen the defense of Iceland and key maritime routes across the North Atlantic. The U.S.-led exercise began on August 22 and will run until September 3.
The biennial exercise is hosted by Iceland and led by the U.S. Sixth Fleet. It forms part of NATO’s broader Arctic Sentry activity and focuses on the Greenland-Iceland-United Kingdom (GIUK) Gap, a key maritime corridor connecting North America and Europe. The exercise is intended to improve Allied readiness, interoperability and multinational planning in the High North.
The United States and Iceland are joined by forces from Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Lithuania, Norway and Poland. Around 1,200 personnel from participating nations are involved.
Northern Viking 26 combines air and maritime capabilities and includes training in anti-submarine warfare, mine countermeasures, search and rescue and other joint operations. The exercise also supports the protection of critical national and Alliance infrastructure in the region.
NATO Mine Countermeasures Forces Participate
Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group One (SNMCMG1) is participating under the command of Lithuanian Navy Commander Donatas Gečas, alongside Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG1).
SNMCMG1 includes minehunters from Canada, Germany, Lithuania and Poland, supported by a Danish Mine Countermeasures team and a Portuguese Explosive Ordnance Disposal team. The forces are conducting training across surface, subsurface and mine countermeasure operations while improving their ability to keep maritime routes open.
“By training together in a demanding operational environment, we strengthen interoperability, share operational experience and improve our readiness to contribute to the security of the North Atlantic,” Gečas said.
The difficult North Atlantic environment, including cold waters, challenging weather and long distances between support facilities, provides an operational setting for Allied forces to develop their capabilities and coordination.
SNMG1 and SNMCMG1 are two of NATO’s four Standing Naval Forces and are maintained at high readiness to provide maritime security, support freedom of navigation and respond to emerging requirements.
Northern Viking 26 also coincides with the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Bilateral Defense Agreement between Iceland and the United States. The exercise is intended to strengthen NATO’s ability to operate together across the GIUK Gap while supporting the defense of Iceland and the wider North Atlantic.
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