Visit of Commander, JFC Norfolk: Iceland's key role in North Atlantic Defence Cooperation

Foreign Minister Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir met with Vice Admiral Douglas G. Perry, Commander of NATO’s Joint Force Command Norfolk. This is his first visit to Iceland since all Nordic countries were placed under the responsibility of NATO’s Norfolk command area at the beginning of December 2025.

The visit placed particular emphasis on NATO’s enhanced Vigilance Activity Arctic Sentry, which aims to enhance coordination, surveillance, and readiness across the Arctic. In this context, it was underlined that Iceland plays a key role at the heart of the GIUK gap (Greenland–Iceland–United Kingdom), one of NATO’s most critical areas for surveillance and defence.

“Vice Admiral Douglas G. Perry’s visit underscores Iceland’s importance in North Atlantic defence cooperation. Arctic Sentry strengthens NATO’s collective security, preparedness, and deterrence, and the partnership delivers mutual benefits for Iceland and Allied nations," says Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir, Minister for Foreign Affairs

Vice Admiral Douglas G. Perry also used the visit to familiarize himself with Keflavik Air Base, from which allied forces operate. Iceland’s contribution includes providing Host Nation Support and maintaining facilities and infrastructure that support continuous surveillance, presence, and deterrence capabilities for the Alliance.

Iceland occupies a strategically vital position at the centre of the GIUK gap and has been a key NATO ally from the foundation of the Alliance”, Vice Admiral Perry said. “I had insightful discussions with Foreign Minister Gunnarsdóttir and Ministry for Foreign Affairs staff about Iceland’s newly adopted Security and Defence Policy and strengthening our cooperation under the recently launched enhanced Vigilance Activity Arctic Sentry. Iceland contributes uniquely and significantly to the Alliance providing Host Nation Support to NATO forces, enabling deterrence and defence in the High North and safeguarding the transatlantic lines of communication”

Joint Force Command Norfolk (JFC Norfolk) is NATO's operational headquarters in North America. Established in 2019 and located in Norfolk, Virginia, the Command reports directly to the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) and contributes to NATO's enhanced warfighting capabilities.

One of its main duties is to secure the strategic lines of communication across the North Atlantic. Since December 2025, JFC Norfolk’s area of responsibility includes Nordic Allies Denmark, Finland and Sweden in addition to Iceland, Norway and the United Kingdom. This realignment reflects the geopolitical significance of the region, the evolving security environment, and NATO’s continued commitment to safeguarding the Arctic.