Arctic and North Atlantic security cooperation

Diplomatic and maritime security efforts in the Arctic and North Atlantic have intensified through cooperation between Iceland, Canada, and the United States. In early October, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Reykjavik to emphasize Iceland’s strategic importance to NATO and the U.S. for North Atlantic power projection. Concurrently, Canada and Iceland announced plans for a bilateral geothermal energy network to support remote northern communities.

By late October, maritime security cooperation expanded during the North Atlantic Coast Guard Forum Summit in Reykjavik. The Canadian Coast Guard signed a Cooperation Plan with the Icelandic Coast Guard, focusing on joint exercises, information sharing, and maritime domain awareness. The agreement also addresses climate resilience and environmental protection. Canadian officials also engaged with representatives from Norway, Sweden, Finland, and the United Kingdom to discuss operational readiness as maritime activity in the region increases.