US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday that continued security cooperation with Iceland is vital, describing the Nordic nation as central to the defence of the North Atlantic. He spoke as regional threats continue to grow.

Rubio said Iceland sits at the centre of security in the shared Arctic and North Atlantic region. He called the country a critical outpost for monitoring clandestine activity.

The remarks underline Washington’s focus on the Arctic as competition in the region intensifies. Iceland’s location between North America and Europe makes it strategically important for surveillance and defence coordination.

The Iceland visit opens a four-day European tour from October 5 to 8 that also takes Rubio to Athens and Lisbon for talks on security, defence, energy and technology. Iceland has no standing army but has long cooperated with the US and NATO on security because of its strategic location.

Rubio’s comments came during a period of heightened attention to northern security. Both countries are members of NATO, and the US has long treated Iceland as a key partner in tracking activity across the North Atlantic.