REYKJAVIK, Iceland, September 8, 2015 — Deputy Defense Secretary Bob Work met with senior Icelandic officials here today and reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to the defense of Iceland.
In a statement summarizing the visit, Pentagon officials said Work arrived in Iceland yesterday to begin a seven-day European trip, which will also include Norway and the United Kingdom.
The deputy met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs Gunnar Bragi Sveinsson and other senior Icelandic officials. According to the statement, discussions focused on the U.S. defense relationship with Iceland and items of shared national security interests, including arctic security.
Work thanked Iceland for its contribution to the defense of NATO’s northern flank. Additionally, the deputy secretary discussed future U.S. operations at Keflavik Air Base, the statement said.
Work concluded his trip to Iceland with a visit to Keflavik Air Base, the statement added, where he expressed appreciation for Iceland’s leadership role in enhancing regional cooperation on Arctic issues, including maritime search and rescue activities. He also thanked Danish and U.S. Air Force service members for their participation in the current Icelandic Air Policing rotation in Iceland.
This trip, which concludes Sept. 12, provides an opportunity to discuss security issues with the nations of northern Europe, the statement said.