U.S. Navy Nuclear Submarine Has Docked In Iceland For The First Time Ever

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The Los Angele s class quick assault submarine USS Newport News pulled into Reykjavik, Iceland, on Wednesday, the primary port name for a nuclear-powered submarine to that island nation. The go to comes amid rising tensions within the Arctic and in a key location the place Russian submarines routinely transit.

Iceland solely started permitting nuclear-powered submarines to enter its territorial waters in 2023.

“In the present day’s port go to is a pivotal second, underscoring our unwavering dedication to collective protection and Arctic safety,” U.S. Navy Adm. Stuart B. Munsch, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa (NAVEUR/NAVAF), stated in a press release. “Our submarine forces are superior and important to making sure the safety of our nations and our Alliance – patrolling the depths and offering a deterrent in an more and more complicated and contested world.”

<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" height="731" width="1024" src="https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/USS-Newport-News-Iceland-Visit-4.jpg?strip=all&quality=85&w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-6456741" srcset="https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/USS-Newport-News-Iceland-Visit-4.jpg?w=50&h=36 50w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/USS-Newport-News-Iceland-Visit-4.jpg?w=280&h=200 280w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/USS-Newport-News-Iceland-Visit-4.jpg?w=289&h=206 289w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/USS-Newport-News-Iceland-Visit-4.jpg?w=300&h=214 300w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/USS-Newport-News-Iceland-Visit-4.jpg?w=303&h=216 303w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/USS-Newport-News-Iceland-Visit-4.jpg?w=308&h=220 308w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/USS-Newport-News-Iceland-Visit-4.jpg?w=370&h=264 370w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/USS-Newport-News-Iceland-Visit-4.jpg?w=555&h=396 555w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/USS-Newport-News-Iceland-Visit-4.jpg?w=560&h=400 560w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/USS-Newport-News-Iceland-Visit-4.jpg?w=566&h=404 566w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/USS-Newport-News-Iceland-Visit-4.jpg?w=660&h=471 660w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/USS-Newport-News-Iceland-Visit-4.jpg?w=768&h=548 768w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/USS-Newport-News-Iceland-Visit-4.jpg?w=967&h=690 967w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/USS-Newport-News-Iceland-Visit-4.jpg?w=972&h=694 972w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/USS-Newport-News-Iceland-Visit-4.jpg?w=1000&h=714 1000w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/USS-Newport-News-Iceland-Visit-4.jpg?w=1024&h=731 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"/> Sailors aboard the Los Angeles class fast-attack submarine USS Newport Information (SSN 750) stand watch as they pull into Reykjavík, Iceland for a scheduled port go to, July 9, 2025 (USN)

<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" height="731" width="1024" src="https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/USS-Newport-News-Iceland-Visit-1.jpg?strip=all&quality=85&w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-6456743" srcset="https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/USS-Newport-News-Iceland-Visit-1.jpg?w=50&h=36 50w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/USS-Newport-News-Iceland-Visit-1.jpg?w=280&h=200 280w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/USS-Newport-News-Iceland-Visit-1.jpg?w=289&h=206 289w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/USS-Newport-News-Iceland-Visit-1.jpg?w=300&h=214 300w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/USS-Newport-News-Iceland-Visit-1.jpg?w=303&h=216 303w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/USS-Newport-News-Iceland-Visit-1.jpg?w=308&h=220 308w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/USS-Newport-News-Iceland-Visit-1.jpg?w=370&h=264 370w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/USS-Newport-News-Iceland-Visit-1.jpg?w=555&h=396 555w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/USS-Newport-News-Iceland-Visit-1.jpg?w=560&h=400 560w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/USS-Newport-News-Iceland-Visit-1.jpg?w=566&h=404 566w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/USS-Newport-News-Iceland-Visit-1.jpg?w=660&h=471 660w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/USS-Newport-News-Iceland-Visit-1.jpg?w=768&h=548 768w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/USS-Newport-News-Iceland-Visit-1.jpg?w=967&h=690 967w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/USS-Newport-News-Iceland-Visit-1.jpg?w=972&h=694 972w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/USS-Newport-News-Iceland-Visit-1.jpg?w=1000&h=714 1000w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/USS-Newport-News-Iceland-Visit-1.jpg?w=1024&h=731 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"/> The Newport Information is moored in Reykjavík, Iceland. (USN)

The Arctic area is more and more turning into a possible flashpoint. It has seen vital funding in army assets, especially by Russia . There's additionally rising concern over a recent Russian buildup along the border with Finland . As well as, there has additionally been a considerable improve in Russian submarine activity on this area over the previous a number of years.

“The USA and Iceland keep the shared objective of low rigidity within the Arctic, with full consciousness of Russia’s efforts to construct its army presence within the area,” Erin Sawyer, Chargé d’affaires on the U.S. Embassy in Iceland, stated in a press release. “Deep coordination with our unbelievable NATO ally Iceland to attain this historic go to demonstrates our dedication to freedom of navigation and the safety of our allies within the area.”

Given its location, Iceland has lengthy served as a strategic outpost to the U.S.

In 1954, in the course of the Chilly Struggle, the U.S. Air Power 57th Fighter Wing was ahead based mostly in Keflavik Air Base, the place it supplied 24-hour air protection. That continued all through the Chilly Struggle. As well as, confronted with the rising Soviet submarine menace, U.S. maritime patrol plane (MPA) had been deployed there during this period as nicely, with the P-3 Orion being a fixture within the skies there. After a lull following the top of the Chilly Struggle, the mission continues with P-8A Poseidon multi-mission plane detachments rotating out and in of Keflavik. NATO fighters additionally present air protection for the nation, which has no fighters of its personal.

<img decoding="async" width="800" height="588" loading="lazy" src="https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/640px-57th_Fighter-Interceptor_Squadron_F-15_Eagles_over_Iceland_1986.jpg?strip=all&quality=85&w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-6456831" srcset="https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/640px-57th_Fighter-Interceptor_Squadron_F-15_Eagles_over_Iceland_1986.jpg?w=50&h=37 50w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/640px-57th_Fighter-Interceptor_Squadron_F-15_Eagles_over_Iceland_1986.jpg?w=280&h=206 280w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/640px-57th_Fighter-Interceptor_Squadron_F-15_Eagles_over_Iceland_1986.jpg?w=289&h=212 289w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/640px-57th_Fighter-Interceptor_Squadron_F-15_Eagles_over_Iceland_1986.jpg?w=294&h=216 294w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/640px-57th_Fighter-Interceptor_Squadron_F-15_Eagles_over_Iceland_1986.jpg?w=300&h=221 300w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/640px-57th_Fighter-Interceptor_Squadron_F-15_Eagles_over_Iceland_1986.jpg?w=308&h=226 308w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/640px-57th_Fighter-Interceptor_Squadron_F-15_Eagles_over_Iceland_1986.jpg?w=370&h=272 370w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/640px-57th_Fighter-Interceptor_Squadron_F-15_Eagles_over_Iceland_1986.jpg?w=539&h=396 539w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/640px-57th_Fighter-Interceptor_Squadron_F-15_Eagles_over_Iceland_1986.jpg?w=544&h=400 544w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/640px-57th_Fighter-Interceptor_Squadron_F-15_Eagles_over_Iceland_1986.jpg?w=550&h=404 550w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/640px-57th_Fighter-Interceptor_Squadron_F-15_Eagles_over_Iceland_1986.jpg?w=660&h=485 660w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/640px-57th_Fighter-Interceptor_Squadron_F-15_Eagles_over_Iceland_1986.jpg?w=768&h=564 768w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/640px-57th_Fighter-Interceptor_Squadron_F-15_Eagles_over_Iceland_1986.jpg 800w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"/> F-15s of the 57th FW over Iceland in the course of the twilight of the Chilly Struggle. (USAF)

The island is situated in the midst of what is called the Greenland, Iceland, UK ( GIUK ) hole, lower than 200 miles south of Greenland and slightly greater than 500 miles north of Scotland. Russian submarines from the Northern Fleet in Murmansk journey by way of either side of that hole. Murmansk is house to a few of Russia’s most succesful submarines, just like the Yasen-M class nuclear-powered cruise missile carrying Kazan . Iceland is a key chokepoint from which to track Russian submarines earlier than they've an opportunity to vanish into the Atlantic Ocean and potentially endanger the East Coast of the United States.

<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" height="600" width="1024" src="https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/14/GettyImages-73944452-scaled.jpg?strip=all&quality=85&w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-6017388" srcset="https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/14/GettyImages-73944452-scaled.jpg?w=50&h=29 50w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/14/GettyImages-73944452-scaled.jpg?w=280&h=164 280w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/14/GettyImages-73944452-scaled.jpg?w=289&h=169 289w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/14/GettyImages-73944452-scaled.jpg?w=300&h=176 300w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/14/GettyImages-73944452-scaled.jpg?w=308&h=180 308w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/14/GettyImages-73944452-scaled.jpg?w=369&h=216 369w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/14/GettyImages-73944452-scaled.jpg?w=370&h=217 370w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/14/GettyImages-73944452-scaled.jpg?w=580&h=340 580w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/14/GettyImages-73944452-scaled.jpg?w=660&h=386 660w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/14/GettyImages-73944452-scaled.jpg?w=676&h=396 676w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/14/GettyImages-73944452-scaled.jpg?w=683&h=400 683w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/14/GettyImages-73944452-scaled.jpg?w=768&h=450 768w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/14/GettyImages-73944452-scaled.jpg?w=1024&h=600 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"/> The Russian Kilo class submarine Lipetsk at Russia’s Northern Fleet base within the city of Severomorsk not removed from town of Murmansk. (ALEXANDER NEMENOV/AFP through Getty Photos) A Russian submarine Mission 877 submarine stands at Russia’s Nothern Fleet base within the city of Severomorsk not removed from town of Murmansk, 19 April 2007. (ALEXANDER NEMENOV/AFP through Getty Photos)

The significance of this hole to U.S. nationwide safety pursuits was underscored earlier this 12 months by the then-NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) and head of U.S. European Command.

Talking of the water and air house bounding Greenland, now-retired Military Gen. Christopher Cavoli testified before Congress in April that entry to it “was completely crucial to america.”

<img decoding="async" width="800" height="968" loading="lazy" src="https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/giuk-gap-map.jpg?strip=all&quality=85&w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-6416719" srcset="https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/giuk-gap-map.jpg?w=41&h=50 41w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/giuk-gap-map.jpg?w=179&h=216 179w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/giuk-gap-map.jpg?w=248&h=300 248w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/giuk-gap-map.jpg?w=280&h=339 280w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/giuk-gap-map.jpg?w=289&h=350 289w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/giuk-gap-map.jpg?w=306&h=370 306w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/giuk-gap-map.jpg?w=308&h=373 308w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/giuk-gap-map.jpg?w=327&h=396 327w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/giuk-gap-map.jpg?w=331&h=400 331w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/giuk-gap-map.jpg?w=334&h=404 334w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/giuk-gap-map.jpg?w=545&h=660 545w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/giuk-gap-map.jpg?w=570&h=690 570w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/giuk-gap-map.jpg?w=574&h=694 574w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/giuk-gap-map.jpg?w=590&h=714 590w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/giuk-gap-map.jpg?w=621&h=752 621w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/giuk-gap-map.jpg?w=691&h=836 691w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/giuk-gap-map.jpg?w=768&h=929 768w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/giuk-gap-map.jpg 800w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"/> Relationship from the Chilly Struggle however nonetheless related right this moment, a map of the GIUK Hole. CIA.gov

Along with being geared up with 12 Vertical Launch System (VLS) tubes for firing Tomahawk cruise missiles, the conventionally armed USS Newport Information can even present crucial underwater surveillance and anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare capabilities. Having U.S. boats make service calls to Iceland “contribute[s] to strengthening steady and efficient submarine surveillance of allied international locations, which ensures higher situational consciousness and will increase the safety of underwater infrastructure equivalent to submarine cables within the waters round Iceland,” the Icelandic Foreign Ministry (MFA) said .

There's rising alarm by Icelandic officers concerning the safety of their undersea cables, pushed in massive measure by a collection of suspected Russian sabotage incidents final 12 months within the Baltic Sea. These incidents led to NATO creating its Baltic Sentry effort to guard energy and communications cables operating below these waters.

The flexibility to make service calls at Icelandic ports offers the Navy a handy assist level for submarine operations within the Arctic. The following closest services in a position to host U.S. nuclear submarines are His Majesty’s Naval Base Clyde in Scotland and Norway’s Grøtsund harbor, north of the close by metropolis of Tromsø. Naval Base Clyde is about 700 miles south of Iceland, whereas Grøtsund harbor is about 900 miles to the northeast.

<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" height="410" width="1024" src="https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Clyde.jpg?strip=all&quality=85&w=1024" alt="SUBMARINE SERVICE BIDS FAREWELL TO COMMODORE AS NEW HEAD ARRIVES Pictured: HMS Raider leaving HMNB Clyde with the now former head of the RN Submarine Service, Commodore Perks. Today, 26 July 2022, the head of the Royal Navy Submarine Service, Commodore Jim Perks CBE, retired from the Senior Service during a ceremony at HM Naval Base Clyde. Commodore Perks took command of the Submarine Flotilla back in 2016 and became head of the submarine fighting arm in January 2020. The appointment was the highlight of an illustrious 38-year naval career which saw him begin as a Royal Navy Rating. Friends and colleagues from the Flotilla gathered at the Home of the UK Submarine Service for the supersession which was held outside the site’s Belmore House. Accompanied by his wife, Louise, the Commodore conducted a farewell tour of the base’s Valiant and Finger jetties where he overseen so many submarine missions during his time in post. The couple were then whisked away by water, boarding Faslane Patrol Boat HMS Raider, which transported Commodore Perks down the Gare Loch for the final time. Credit: Leading Photographer Bill Spurr" class="wp-image-6456775" srcset="https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Clyde.jpg?w=50&h=20 50w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Clyde.jpg?w=280&h=112 280w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Clyde.jpg?w=289&h=116 289w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Clyde.jpg?w=300&h=120 300w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Clyde.jpg?w=308&h=123 308w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Clyde.jpg?w=370&h=148 370w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Clyde.jpg?w=540&h=216 540w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Clyde.jpg?w=580&h=232 580w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Clyde.jpg?w=660&h=264 660w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Clyde.jpg?w=704&h=282 704w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Clyde.jpg?w=768&h=307 768w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Clyde.jpg?w=1000&h=400 1000w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Clyde.jpg?w=1024&h=410 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"/> Her Majesty’s Naval Base Clyde in Scotland can assist nuclear submarine visits. (Main Photographer Invoice Spurr)

Whereas that is the primary port name to Iceland, U.S. submarines have made six earlier visits to the island nation’s territorial waters for the reason that MFA “introduced in 2023 that such submarines can be permitted to make temporary stops off the coast of Iceland to tackle board and substitute a part of the crew,” the ministry explained .

“The frequency of visits will rely upon the necessity at every time,” the MFA added. “The…procedures had been ready in 2023 in shut cooperation between the [U.S. and Iceland] and are based mostly on comparable laws in neighboring international locations.”

The nuclear quick assault submarine’s high-profile go to to Iceland is one other indicator of U.S. plans to leverage the strategic potential of the nation. B-2 Spirit stealth bombers had a similar moment in 2019 when they first used Iceland as a ahead staging level. On the time, this was not simply uncommon for Iceland but in addition the B-2 power which had been beforehand relegated to working out of a tiny handful of bases with superior infrastructure. That has changed in years since, with the B-2 force expanding its means to function out of austere places.

Nonetheless, Iceland is enjoying an more and more outstanding Chilly Struggle-like position within the extraordinarily difficult safety image overseas and is yet one more port — and maybe probably the most related of all — the place American nuclear submarines can name on if want be.

Contact the creator: howard@thewarzone.com

Howard is a Senior Employees Author for The Struggle Zone , and a former Senior Managing Editor for Army Occasions . Previous to this, he coated army affairs for the Tampa Bay Occasions as a Senior Author. Howard's work has appeared in numerous publications together with Yahoo Information , RealClearDefense , and Air Power Occasions .