Is Iceland About to Form an Army After Centuries of Peace?
For the past millennium, Iceland, a nation that has rarely engaged in conflicts with its neighbors, is now considering an unprecedented shift in its security policy.
According to a report by The Times, the island nation, which hasn't had an army since 1869, hasn't been involved in an armed conflict since the 16th century. Despite being one of the founding members of NATO, its contribution to the alliance has been limited to providing bases and civil support until now.
However, the melting glaciers in the Arctic region are reshaping geopolitical conditions, leading to a shift in balances. The increasing presence of Russian and Chinese vessels on northern routes, along with the more frequent sightings of Russian submarines in the North Atlantic, has sparked a debate in Iceland, questioning whether 'militarization is no longer a taboo?'
Source: Oxygen
The public initiated a special campaign, "Let's Have Our Own Army".
The campaign group named 'Guardians of Iceland' is proposing the establishment of a small yet flexible defense force of 2,000 people to safeguard the country's critical infrastructure. Moreover, they advocate for the creation of a reserve force pool of 40,000 people that can be rapidly mobilized in the event of a crisis.
Arnor Sigurjonsson, a defense expert and one of the founders of the initiative, outlined the main tenets of the plan as follows: 'We envision a small land force that will ensure coastal security, work in harmony with our international partners, a national reserve unit, and a comprehensive civil defense structure. This model not only enhances deterrence but also provides a swift response to crises and grants Iceland greater autonomy within NATO.'
The government is proceeding with caution, while the ministry is striving to make preparations.
The government, on the other hand, is approaching these proposals with caution. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has tasked the parliament with preparing the country's first national defense strategy. The committee report highlighted that Iceland's geographical isolation, long seen as a security shield, is no longer a protective factor, and it seems unlikely that the country would remain unaffected in the event of a NATO conflict.
The report also underscored the strategic importance of the 'Greenland-Iceland-UK gap', through which the Russian Northern Fleet accesses the Atlantic, and the vulnerability of underwater communication cables to potential Russian sabotage.
Adding a new dimension to these discussions, in recent weeks, Germany's Defense Minister Boris Pistorius visited Reykjavik to sign a 'letter of intent' on joint military planning and defense procurement.
It's a member of NATO, yet it doesn't have an army.
Despite joining NATO in 1949, Iceland stands out as one of the few members that has not established its own military. For many years, the country's security was maintained through Keflavik Air Base, under an agreement signed with the US in 1951. However, when the US closed the base in 2006, it prompted the Reykjavik administration to seek greater autonomy in defense matters. Yet, there continues to be strong societal resistance in Iceland against military structuring and defense spending.
As the effects of global warming increase the strategic importance of the Arctic region, Iceland once again finds itself at the center of geopolitical competition. The melting glaciers are opening new sea routes, giving the 'Greenland-Iceland-UK gap' a key position in the Atlantic access of Russia's Northern Fleet. At the same time, China's accelerated commercial investments in the Arctic have deepened security concerns within the Reykjavik administration.
Although the government is cautious about the idea of building military power, it has started to plan joint defense strategies with NATO allies. However, public opinion is divided on this issue: while some argue that the country is already safe under the NATO umbrella, others express that 'real independence is not possible without its own defense capacity'.
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