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NATO allies conduct Northern Viking exercises off Iceland without U.S. ships or aircraft for the first time in decades

NATO allies conducted the annual Northern Viking military exercises off the coast of Iceland in August to practice hunting Russian submarines. For the first time in decades, no U.S. warships or aircraft participated in the maneuvers. Instead, European countries and Canada took the lead, utilizing German reconnaissance aircraft, Canadian warships, and Belgian fighter jets. French Rear Admiral Nicolas Molitor commanded the exercises, which aimed to demonstrate that European allies and Canada can maintain security in the North Atlantic without direct U.S. military leadership. Jonas Allansson, head of the Defense Directorate at the Icelandic Ministry of Foreign Affairs, noted that the allies are stepping up their efforts in Iceland. While the U.S. did not provide direct ships or aircraft, the administration remains involved in the security infrastructure of the island. U.S. military construction crews continue to work on new facilities at Keflavík Airport, and the U.S. side assisted in planning the exercises. The maneuvers highlighted the strategic importance of the waters around Iceland, which serve as a key maritime passage for Russian submarines moving from the Kola Peninsula into the Atlantic Ocean.

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