US submarine surfaces near Iceland in signal to Russia

The Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS San Juan (SSN 751) made a brief stop for supplies and personnel off Iceland’s west coast on April 26, 2023.

This comes after the Icelandic Minister for Foreign Affairs informed the United States that American Navy submarines are permitted to make short visits to Iceland to receive supplies and exchange crew members.

The move is part of efforts by the Allies to increase monitoring and response capacity in the North Atlantic.

San Juan’s presence in the region is not only practical but symbolic, sending a clear message to Russia about the strength and cooperation of the Iceland-US strategic relationship. It also highlights the mutual commitment to maritime domain awareness and increased response capabilities in the Arctic and North Atlantic.

The visit serves to enhance regional maritime domain awareness and increases the safety of underwater infrastructure such as submarine cables.

It also paves the way for future stops as needed and as supportable, further demonstrating the cooperation between the two nations.

Captain John Craddock, Commander Task Force 69, expressed his gratitude for the support provided by the Icelandic authorities. In a statement, he said, “We thank our Icelandic Allies for allowing San Juan to conduct this brief stop for supplies and personnel in Icelandic waters.”

“This visit demonstrates the strength of the Iceland-U.S. strategic relationship and our mutual commitment to maritime domain awareness and increased response capabilities in the Arctic and North Atlantic. The ability to conduct these stops out of Iceland greatly increases our operational flexibility in the Greenland-Iceland-U.K. Gap.”