NATO Allies Increase Efforts to Counter Russian Submarines as US Role Declines
ISTANBUL — September 5, 2026
NATO members are strengthening their efforts to detect and monitor Russia’s nuclear-capable submarines in the North Atlantic as the United States assumes a less prominent role in the alliance’s military operations in the region, Politico reported Saturday.
During NATO’s annual Northern Viking exercise last month, German surveillance aircraft, Canadian naval vessels and Belgian fighter jets operated around Iceland to practice locating and tracking submarines.
For the first time in several decades, however, the maritime exercise did not include US ships or aircraft. The operation was led by French Rear Admiral Nicolas Molitor and was designed to demonstrate that European NATO members and Canada are capable of maintaining security in the strategically important North Atlantic without direct US military leadership.
Iceland’s defense chief Jonas Allansson reportedly said the exercise demonstrated the increasing contributions being made by European allies and Canada.
Iceland is situated close to the Greenland-Iceland-United Kingdom, known as the GIUK Gap. The strategically important passage provides a route for Russian submarines travelling from bases on Russia’s Kola Peninsula into the Atlantic.
A senior NATO official described the area as an important dividing line between NATO and Russia. The official warned that if Russia gained control over the passage, its submarines could gain wider access to the Atlantic and threaten military bases on both sides of the ocean.
According to the report, NATO members are becoming increasingly concerned about Russia’s nuclear and conventional military capabilities as well as potential threats to vital underwater infrastructure. These concerns include the safety of internet cables and pipelines that are essential to modern economies.
German Navy Commander Peter Flohr emphasized the need for continuous monitoring and protection of such infrastructure, noting that everyday activities, including online purchases, depend on these undersea cables.
The United States has not fully withdrawn from Iceland. American personnel are assisting with the construction of new military facilities at Keflavik Airport and remain involved in planning for the Northern Viking exercise.
However, the absence of US ships and aircraft from the latest maritime operation represents a significant change from previous years and highlights the growing security role of European NATO members and Canada in the North Atlantic.
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