NATO Secretary General highlights Iceland´s role in transatlantic security

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NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte visited Iceland on Thursday (27 November 2025) for meetings with Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir and Foreign Minister Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir.

During the visit, the Secretary General visited Keflavík Air Base and flew by helicopter over the Grindavík lava barriers – structures built to safeguard the town and nearby critical infrastructure from repeated volcanic activity.

“Volcanic eruptions have forced the people of Grindavík to leave their homes again and again. The lava barriers built to protect the town and critical infrastructure are impressive,“ said the Secretary General. He added that Iceland has here shown that commitment, ingenuity and resilience matter.

Secretary General Rutte thanked Iceland for its strong contributions to NATO, welcoming the country´s first formal defence policy, presented to parliament earlier this month.

“Your strategic position underpins security for North America and Europe – at sea, below the surface, and in the air above,” he said. “You operate critical air defence and surveillance systems as part of NATO’s Integrated Air and Missile Defence; and you provide facilities, infrastructure and host nation support at Keflavik for regular Air Policing.”

He also underlined Iceland´s continued support to Ukraine. Iceland has contributed more than 8 million euros to the Prioritized Ukraine Requirement List (PURL), and is supporting the Danish defence industry model and the Czech Ammunition Initiative. Iceland has further funded prosthetics for wounded in Ukrainians, and support demining efforts with Lithuania.

“These are concrete contributions that save lives and strengthen Ukraine´s defence and also send a clear signal to Moscow that Allies stand with Ukraine,” he said.

This was Mr Rutte´s first visit to Iceland since taking office as NATO Secretary General in October last year.