Archive · 5 Oct 2026
Rubio Visits Iceland Amid US Push for Arctic Influence
Marco Rubio, the United States' top diplomat, is going to Iceland on Monday.
He plans to discuss economic and security cooperation with officials there.
His visit follows a new security agreement involving the United States, Denmark, and Greenland.
The United States plans to build two new military bases in Greenland under that agreement.
Iceland has no military and relies on NATO and a defense agreement with the United States for security.
The United States does not have a permanent base in Iceland.
After Iceland, Rubio is due to visit Greece and then Lisbon.
The visits come as countries pay more attention to security and access in the Arctic.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to visit Iceland on Monday for talks on economic and security cooperation.
The trip comes two weeks after the United States signed a security pact with Denmark and Greenland.
Under the pact, Washington plans to establish two new military bases in Greenland.
Iceland relies on NATO and a 1951 bilateral defense pact with the United States for security, despite having no military of its own.
Rubio is also scheduled to visit Greece for talks on regional and energy security, then make a brief stop in Lisbon.
- Who
- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Icelandic officials.
- What
- Rubio is scheduled to visit Iceland for talks on economic and security cooperation.
- When
- Monday; the visit comes two weeks after the Greenland security pact was signed.
- Where
- Reykjavik, Iceland.
- Why
- The United States says the talks will cover economic and security collaboration as it pursues its interests in the Arctic.
- Iceland visit
- Rubio is scheduled to meet officials in Reykjavik on Monday.
- Greenland pact
- The United States signed a security pact with Denmark and Greenland in late September.
- Planned bases
- The United States plans to establish two new military bases on Greenland.
- Iceland's security
- Iceland relies on NATO and a bilateral defense pact with the United States signed in 1951.
- Icelandic military
- Iceland has had no military since gaining independence in 1944.
- Further stops
- Rubio is scheduled to continue to Athens and then make a brief stop in Lisbon.