Joint Expeditionary Force ministers meet in Iceland to bolster northern security

Defence Ministers of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) met at Keflavík Air Base in Iceland on October 2, 2026, to advance the group's role in European and Euro-Atlantic security. The meeting follows strategic guidance established during the Helsinki Summit in March 2026.

A primary focus of the summit was the JEF-Ukraine Enhanced Partnership. For the first time, Ukrainian units participated in the JEF’s flagship Lion Protector exercise, with Ukrainian mine countermeasure vessels operating alongside JEF forces. This collaboration allows the JEF to integrate Ukraine’s operational experience in modern warfare into its own training and planning.

Ministers also reaffirmed the strategic importance of the Baltic Sea, the High North, the Arctic, and the North Atlantic as an interconnected security space. The group aims to strengthen NATO’s northern flank through collective expertise in these regions. Additionally, discussions were held regarding deepening cooperation with Canada.