NATO forces trained near Iceland to detect Russian submarines, without U.S. ships or aircraft

NATO forces conducted the annual Northern Viking exercise near Iceland to detect and track Russian submarines crossing the North Atlantic. The maneuvers took place without the direct participation of any American ships or aircraft, for the first time since the exercise, which has been organized for decades, began.

German surveillance aircraft, Canadian ships, and Belgian fighter aircraft took part in the operation, under the command of French Rear Admiral Nicolas Molitor. The military practiced information sharing, anti-submarine missions, and monitoring the seabed, including underwater infrastructure.

The area is part of the so-called GIUK Gap, the maritime region between Greenland, Iceland, and the United Kingdom, considered a strategic route for Russian submarines departing from the Kola Peninsula for the Atlantic. NATO officials maintain that control of this area is essential for the security of Europe and North America.

The exercise is taking place amid growing concerns about Russian activity, the protection of undersea cables and pipelines, and the possible reduction of the American military presence in Europe.

Although the United States contributed to the planning, the operational role was assumed this year to a greater extent by European allies and Canada.