NATO’s Mark Rutte visited Iceland, meeting with Prime Minister Kristrun Frostadottir and Foreign Minister Thorgerdur Katrin Gunnarsdottir before inspecting NATO security operations at Keflavik Airport, a key North Atlantic facility.
At a joint press conference, Rutte reaffirmed that NATO will continue prioritizing military and financial support for Ukraine. He stated that peace talks are “progressing well” and welcomed U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent involvement in the negotiations.
Rutte also thanked Iceland for its contributions — including funding for arms purchases for Ukraine, artificial limbs for injured soldiers, and participation in mine-clearance efforts with Lithuania.
“Iceland has sent a clear message that the allies stand with Ukraine,” Rutte said.
#Rutte #Iceland #NATO #Ukraine
At a joint press conference, Rutte reaffirmed that NATO will continue prioritizing military and financial support for Ukraine. He stated that peace talks are “progressing well” and welcomed U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent involvement in the negotiations.
Rutte also thanked Iceland for its contributions — including funding for arms purchases for Ukraine, artificial limbs for injured soldiers, and participation in mine-clearance efforts with Lithuania.
“Iceland has sent a clear message that the allies stand with Ukraine,” Rutte said.
#Rutte #Iceland #NATO #Ukraine
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NewsTranscript
00:00...scores the importance of the role that Iceland plays in the defense and preparedness of NATO.
00:05Our strategically important and geographical situation here in the middle of the North Atlantic
00:10has been for decades a key asset at times for the alliance,
00:16and especially today in the setting that we are in.
00:20We are very much aware that the security outlook in the North Atlantic and the Arctic has been changing,
00:25and we take our role very seriously here.
00:28And I want to say that this visit does come at a very important point for this.
00:34Earlier today, the Secretary-General visited Keblovik Air Base.
00:38You got to see firsthand how we do security and defense in Iceland,
00:42how we multiply NATO's defenses by our host nation capabilities,
00:48and we have been ramping up our defense-related spending,
00:51but in a way that is fit and makes sense here in Iceland.
00:54So it's very important for us that you see how we use the funding that we have here.
01:00We have been strengthening our capacity when it comes to host nation support.
01:05We are very focused now on expanding the funding when it comes to the 1.5%,
01:10which will be a crucial pillar in our defense strategy going forward.
01:15And I want to specifically mention what was in the media this morning,
01:19which was the signing of an MOU for the infrastructure development project in Helkvi, Karbur.
01:26This is a very good example of how NATO can work very well with infrastructure projects in Iceland
01:33that also strengthen the position of the local communities,
01:37because there you have jobs, you have growth, you have capabilities that have dual-use purposes.
01:44We also discussed Ukraine in our meeting,
01:47and I've told the Secretary-General that Iceland remains a steadfast supporter of Ukraine.
01:53We are very much aware that the situation, the security in Ukraine,
01:58is going to affect the wider Euro-Atlantic area,
02:01and that's why we will continue to support Ukraine.
02:05So, Mr. Secretary-General, here, Mark, let me just reiterate
02:08that the transatlantic bond remains as important and as strong as ever,
02:14and I believe that the alliance has never stood as strong as it does today,
02:19and we very much look forward to further relationship with the alliance.
02:24Thank you so much.
02:26Prime Minister Frosterdottir, dear Christrum,
02:29It is a pleasure, indeed, to be back in Reykjavik.
02:34This is the northernmost capital in NATO, I think even in the whole world.
02:38And I want to thank you for your warm welcome, for the friendship,
02:43and it is great to see you now in Reykjavik.
02:46Since you took office, it is now almost a year ago, I think, in December,
02:50you have made Iceland's continued commitment to NATO clear, very clear,
02:56and your government has ambitious plans to take to heart,
03:00but I believe also the necessary decisions required to increase defense
03:05and security-related spending, and for this, I commend you.
03:10For a nation without armed forces, this is no small task.
03:14But Iceland has always punched above its weight.
03:19Believe me, I remember very well when the Icelandic national football team
03:23beat the Netherlands and Amsterdam in 2015.
03:26I also welcome your leadership, Christrum, on Iceland's first formal policy on defense issues,
03:33which was presented to the parliament earlier this month,
03:36and this will further strengthen NATO's deterrence and defense.
03:40Iceland, as we know, is a founding member of our alliance.
03:44Your strategic position underpinned security for North America and Europe,
03:48at sea, below the surface, and in the air above.
03:53You operate critical air defense and surveillance systems
03:57as part of NATO's integrated air and missile defense.
04:00And you provide facilities, infrastructure, and host nation support
04:04at Kev Levyk for regular air policing.
04:08And indeed, that was a very impressive visit.
04:11Your leadership on resilience and civil preparedness is second to none.
04:15Earlier today, indeed, with Foreign Minister Gunasdottir,
04:19I flew over the southern peninsula,
04:22where repeated volcanic eruptions have forced the people of Grindelweeg
04:26to leave their homes again and again.
04:29The lava barriers built to protect the town
04:32and critical infrastructure are impressive and very practical.
04:36So Iceland has also here shown that commitment, ingenuity, and resilience,
04:40and that combination of commitment, ingenuity, and resilience, that they matter.
04:46We are now halfway between the summit in The Hague,
04:50where we saw each other last,
04:52and our next summit in Ankara.
04:54And our priorities are clear.
04:55To invest more in defense and security,
04:58to strengthen our defense industrial base,
05:01and to sustain our unwavering support to Ukraine
05:04against Russia's ongoing war of aggression.
05:06Russia has paid a high price for marginal gains,
05:11and Ukraine continues to defend itself with courage.
05:14There is tremendous renewed energy around the peace process,
05:17and for that, I want to commend US President Trump.
05:21I also want to commend the people of Iceland.
05:24Iceland is a strong supporter of Ukraine indeed,
05:27including through your recent contribution
05:29of more than 8 million euros to Pearl,
05:32the NATO-led effort to support critical munitions to Ukraine.
05:37You have funded prosthetics for the wounded,
05:39supported demining initiatives with Lithuania,
05:42and contributed to procurement
05:43through the Danish defense industry model
05:45and the Czech ammunition initiative.
05:48And these are concrete contributions
05:50that save lives and strengthen Ukraine's defense,
05:54and also send a clear signal to Moscow
05:56that allies stand with Ukraine.
05:59I was thought earlier of the Icelandic poet Hulda,
06:04who wrote during the Second World War
06:06about Iceland as a land far from the world's battlefields.
06:10It is a beautiful poem
06:11that captured Iceland's unique place in the world at that time.
06:15Today, we know there is no periphery,
06:18but the spirit she expressed still matters.
06:21Resilient people, bound by sea and sky,
06:24united in the pursuit of peace.
06:26From Reykjavik to the Hague, my home city,
06:29from the high north to the Black Sea,
06:32every ally is now a frontline state
06:34in the contest for our security and our values.
06:38So, Prime Minister, dear Kristel,
06:40thank you for your leadership,
06:42thank you for Iceland's steadfast support to NATO,
06:45commitment to NATO,
06:47and for everything you are doing.
06:48Thank you, Mark.
06:49Thank you so much.
06:51Okay, so now we're going to do a few questions.
06:54Secretary?
06:55Yeah.
06:56Yes, my name is Ahastit.
06:57I'm from the Icelandic news, Secretary Hamilton.
07:00I would like to ask you, Mr. Rötti,
07:02NATO's long framed itself as an alliance
07:05not only of military security,
07:06but of shared democratic values.
07:10In recent years,
07:10we've been seeing measurable democratic backsliding
07:13across the transatlantic region.
07:15How do you assess NATO's current position
07:18as a political alliance between democracy?
07:21And how do you see its role evolving
07:23in the area when democratic systems,
07:26including some within NATO,
07:27appear to be under increasing strain?
07:30I would argue that, indeed, still,
07:33till today, from the start in 1949
07:35up to and including today,
07:37this is an alliance of democracies,
07:39of shared value,
07:40and we will always have our debates,
07:42even within our countries,
07:44from the centre-left to the centre-right,
07:46from the left to the right,
07:47and that's exactly how it should play out.
07:49We have our free and independent media
07:51who will keep us sharp,
07:52the parliaments,
07:53our societies can organise demonstrations,
07:56and I can assure you my country,
07:58I'm not sure here,
07:58but in The Hague and Amsterdam,
08:01they take place.
08:02So that's still the case.
08:04That has not changed
08:05over those more than 75 years.
08:14Holfridin Marja,
08:15from Morgenblad and MPL.IS.
08:17Hi.
08:18Mr. Secretary-General,
08:20what are the most important investments
08:25Iceland needs to make
08:26to strengthen its national security,
08:28and will NATO help Iceland with its development?
08:30Right.
08:31Yes,
08:32and basically we decided this together,
08:34so we had a whole process in NATO,
08:35where we agreed on,
08:38sorry for the NATO language,
08:39the capability targets,
08:40so each country has to deliver,
08:42and of course,
08:43Iceland is unique,
08:44because you do not have a military,
08:45but you do have your investments
08:47in everything related
08:49to defence and security spending,
08:51so when it comes to air defence,
08:53when it comes to surveillance systems,
08:56and you are,
08:57as a country,
08:58you are the eyes and ears
08:59for many of us in NATO.
09:02This morning,
09:03when I was visiting the base,
09:04I was really impressed
09:05by the fact
09:06that all the countries there
09:07told me that one of the things
09:09Iceland is very good at
09:11is host nation support,
09:12because you host a lot of military
09:14from other countries
09:15who are doing extremely important work here,
09:18and host nation support
09:19is therefore crucial,
09:20so that people like to come here,
09:22sometimes they have to come here
09:23on short notice,
09:24because there is some urgency
09:25to get here,
09:27and then,
09:28particularly it is important,
09:29that you have this organized
09:30this very well,
09:31and you did.
09:32So all these issues,
09:34and everything,
09:35what you are doing
09:36in your societal resilience,
09:37already mentioned,
09:38you are second to none,
09:39I think you can compare
09:41maybe a little bit
09:41with Estonia,
09:42Sweden,
09:43Norway,
09:43countries like that,
09:44but you have really thought it through,
09:47and I know that a country
09:48like mine,
09:48the Netherlands,
09:49is trying to learn from you,
09:50how to do that.
09:51So on all of this,
09:52what we basically agreed
09:53in the capability targets
09:54is that you are on the right track,
09:56we want Iceland to do more,
09:58Iceland has committed
09:58to keep on investing
10:00over the coming years
10:01to make this even stronger.
10:03If I can just add to that,
10:04I think it is very important
10:05that we have these regular catch-ups,
10:08I mean I met with Mark
10:09in Brussels this spring,
10:11then obviously this summer,
10:12again this fall,
10:13because governments change,
10:15the Secretary General has changed,
10:17in all countries,
10:18and we constantly need
10:19to have a shared understanding
10:20of where responsibilities lie,
10:23and I think the strength of NATO
10:24is this understanding
10:25of that we need to be focusing
10:28on capability.
10:29Not everyone is doing
10:30the same thing.
10:32Countries are doing
10:32what fits them,
10:33what suits them,
10:34and this coming together
10:35is what strengthens the alliance.
10:37This is why we have an alliance,
10:40and it's so important
10:40that Mark got to see
10:42the Secretary General,
10:43how we do things in Iceland,
10:44because then Icelanders
10:46can also feel
10:47the sense of security
10:48of, you know,
10:48we have been doing well,
10:49our security model
10:50has been working,
10:51we just need to further
10:52strengthen that.
10:54These are not questions
10:55of changing the way
10:57we do security,
10:58but we need to make it
10:59more robust,
11:00and this is also strengthening
11:02our situation
11:03and our position
11:05in NATO,
11:06and so, you know,
11:07having that joint understanding,
11:09getting support
11:10on that end,
11:11and then us being able
11:12to sort of ramp it up
11:13with NATO funding,
11:14and then we put
11:15our funding in as well,
11:16is what has made
11:17this collaboration
11:18and this alliance
11:19so strong.
11:20Iceland is a very important ally,
11:22and you were there
11:23since the start,
11:24so we went the whole way
11:27together.
11:27My name is
11:32Harald Grímir Indreðarsson,
11:33I'm a reporter for
11:35RUV,
11:35the Icelandic National
11:36Broadcasting Service.
11:37Right.
11:39Maybe on a similar note,
11:41but maybe a bit wider,
11:42you, of course,
11:43this morning
11:44familiarized yourself
11:45with the security area
11:48at Keplavík.
11:49How do you see
11:53the importance
11:54of that
11:54for the NATO
11:57activities
11:57and the alliance,
11:58and do you see
12:00the area
12:02or the
12:02sort of
12:03NATO activities
12:05even
12:05increase
12:06in the near future,
12:07seeing
12:07the situation
12:10in the world
12:10at the moment?
12:10Well,
12:11that's the whole plan.
12:13That's
12:13because we,
12:15as I said,
12:16we cannot be naive.
12:17We are all
12:18frontline states now.
12:19The latest
12:20Russian missiles
12:21can reach
12:22every part
12:22of NATO territory
12:23within a very
12:25limited time span,
12:26and what
12:28Iceland is doing
12:29in terms of
12:30indeed surveillance,
12:31air defense,
12:32et cetera,
12:33making sure
12:33that this country
12:35is hosting
12:36all the nations
12:37organizing this
12:38is crucial.
12:39But also,
12:39when you look at
12:40what we discussed
12:40extensively,
12:41the high north,
12:42the Arctic,
12:44because there are
12:45seven countries
12:46in the Arctic,
12:47member of NATO,
12:48ally within NATO,
12:50and only one
12:52is not an ally
12:53in NATO
12:53and not applying
12:54for membership,
12:54and that's Russia.
12:56And there is
12:57a ninth country,
12:59China,
12:59which is geographically
13:00not in the high north,
13:01but is very active here,
13:02becoming more and more
13:03active.
13:04But the seven,
13:05so Canada and the US,
13:06and Iceland and Denmark,
13:07Finland,
13:08Norway,
13:08Sweden,
13:09they work,
13:10these countries
13:11working together
13:12within NATO,
13:14and NATO,
13:15particularly,
13:16I think,
13:17over the last
13:1712 to 18 months,
13:19becoming more
13:19and more involved
13:20with these activities
13:22so that we can help
13:23to coordinate
13:24and being the platform
13:25to organize this,
13:26is crucial,
13:27because sea lanes
13:28are opening up,
13:29and we see how
13:32our adversaries
13:33are trying to make use
13:34of this,
13:35and we discussed
13:37the visit of
13:39Jonas Sture,
13:39the Norwegian
13:39Prime Minister
13:40to the White House,
13:41where he showed
13:41that map
13:41to President Trump,
13:42saying,
13:42hey,
13:43here you have
13:43these huge
13:44submarine bases
13:45in Russia.
13:47They are not there
13:48to attack Norway.
13:49They are there
13:49to ultimately
13:50attack the United States.
13:51So it is a joint
13:53interest effort,
13:54and this is one
13:55of the reasons
13:55why it is so crucial
13:56that NATO is not
13:57only European,
13:59that it is
13:59transatlantic,
14:00because the Atlantic
14:02and the Arctic
14:03and Europe,
14:04those three being safe,
14:06means that we live
14:07in prosperity
14:08and can make sure
14:10that our values
14:11are protected
14:11and our people,
14:13but also
14:13the United States
14:14and Canada.
14:17Hello,
14:18Secretary General.
14:20My name is Margaret,
14:21a reporter
14:22from SIN Newsroom.
14:24Right.
14:25You talked a little bit
14:26about the Arctic,
14:28and I want to further
14:30ask you about,
14:31given the growing tension
14:33between NATO
14:33and Russia,
14:35how do you envision
14:36Iceland's role
14:37in particular
14:38with the alliance,
14:39both strategically
14:40and politically
14:41in the coming years?
14:43Quite crucial,
14:44because Iceland
14:45is also a convening power,
14:47as you are,
14:48I think we started
14:50with 10 allies
14:51in 1949,
14:52Kari,
14:53if I'm correct?
14:5412.
14:55In 1949,
14:55we started with 12,
14:56and now we are 32.
14:58Iceland was one
14:59of the 12
15:00original founding nations
15:02within NATO.
15:04And Iceland
15:05has always been
15:05a country
15:06which was able
15:07to be the platform.
15:10And you still do that.
15:11You still organize
15:12regional conferences,
15:14sometimes even
15:16superseding regional conferences
15:18to organize,
15:19to bring the people together.
15:21So that's one.
15:22The other is,
15:22of course,
15:23that you are,
15:23as I said,
15:24the eyes and the ears
15:24for the technology
15:26which is here,
15:27your unique geography,
15:30your unique people,
15:32your very proud nation.
15:36And that means
15:38that over the years
15:39people have always thought,
15:40yeah,
15:40Iceland is not a threat,
15:42but Iceland is relevant,
15:44is important,
15:44and punches above its weight.
15:46So I hope
15:47it will continue.
15:48And we discussed it,
15:49and the prime minister
15:49offered it,
15:50and said,
15:50hey,
15:51wherever we can help
15:52within NATO
15:53to organize,
15:54be it the high north
15:54and other issues,
15:55we want to be that platform,
15:57and I'm sure
15:57we'll make use of that.
15:59So that would be
16:00in addition to
16:01the previous answer
16:03to the relevance
16:03of the high north,
16:04because it was always relevant,
16:07but I think
16:08with what is now happening
16:10geographically,
16:12but also physically,
16:14with the sea lanes
16:15opening up,
16:16we have to be careful,
16:18and we need to protect ourselves.
16:21And it's right
16:21what the Secretary-General
16:22said regarding us
16:24having the position
16:25of being a convening power
16:26of sorts.
16:27I think it's,
16:28important that we keep
16:29that open,
16:30because we see
16:31us sort of situated
16:33right in between
16:34the US,
16:35Europe,
16:36obviously,
16:37such a broad geography
16:38that NATO entails,
16:40but at the same time,
16:41you know,
16:42we don't want to scare people
16:43into thinking
16:44that, you know,
16:45we're going down
16:46a bad path here
16:47in the high north,
16:47but we cannot be naive
16:49about what's going on.
16:50And we have been
16:51in a strong position
16:52strategically and security-wise
16:53because we've been
16:54an ally of NATO.
16:55So we see our role now
16:57even stronger
16:58than before.
16:59This unsinkable
17:00aircraft carrier
17:01that Iceland has been
17:02is even more relevant today.
17:03We see that
17:04that our countries
17:05within NATO
17:06that are now looking
17:07towards how they can use
17:09Iceland as a platform
17:10here in the high north,
17:12and we look upon that
17:13as positively,
17:14because this strengthens
17:15our domestic defenses
17:16as well.
17:17So we have to do that
17:19in collaboration with NATO.
17:21We also are in a position
17:23where we can be
17:24sort of hegemons
17:25or leaders
17:26in this part of the world,
17:27right?
17:28Because this is a different
17:29part of the world,
17:30the Central Atlantic,
17:32with Greenland,
17:33Iceland,
17:34the pharaohs.
17:35We have a voice here as well,
17:36and we have a responsibility
17:38to be leaders
17:39in this region.
17:40So we have offered
17:41that to NATO.
17:41We've offered that
17:42to other leaders
17:43if we can be of help.
17:45But, you know,
17:46let me just reiterate
17:47what the Secretary General
17:48has said.
17:49You know,
17:49our position
17:50is not going to change.
17:51We will still be
17:52a host nation
17:53focused on infrastructure,
17:55focused on air surveillance,
17:57being the eyes and ears.
17:58Such a good phrase,
17:59right?
18:00For NATO.
18:01But we need to step up
18:02our investments.
18:02We can do that
18:04in a positive way
18:05for the domestic public
18:07as well here in Iceland,
18:08and we see a lot
18:09of opportunities.
18:10And if I just reiterate,
18:12this infrastructure
18:13development project
18:14announced in Helcovik today
18:16is such a good example
18:17of the positive work
18:19that we can do together.
18:20It is.
18:21And indeed,
18:22you said the place
18:23on the map is unique
18:24because maybe sometimes
18:26you would like
18:26to be closer to Europe,
18:28but the fact that you are,
18:29yes, Europe,
18:29but at the same time,
18:30you have that unique
18:31geographical position,
18:33of course,
18:33that has made this country
18:34what it is.
18:35Yeah.
18:35One of the,
18:36yeah,
18:36I mean,
18:37you are one of the
18:37most successful countries
18:39on earth,
18:39but also unique
18:40in terms of understanding
18:42what that means,
18:43being that,
18:44on that unique place
18:45on the map.
18:46So,
18:46you are one of the
19:16of the small scale.
19:22It is a good example,
19:22from the small scale.
19:23From the small scale,
19:24you have to look at the
19:26amount of the quality of the
19:27small scale,
19:28of the small scale,
19:29of the small scale.
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