Tugboats guide the attack submarine USS Newport News away from the pier at Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Conn., March 12, 2025. Newport News made a port call in Iceland on July 9, marking the first time a nuclear-powered submarine has visited Icelandic shores, the Navy said. (Joshua Karsten/U.S. Navy)

NAPLES, Italy — An American nuclear-powered submarine’s historic visit to Iceland on Wednesday sends a powerful message to Russia that some of the Navy’s most formidable vessels are protecting the High North, the service’s top commander in Europe and Africa said.

The attack submarine USS Newport News’ port call to Grundartangi also makes a visible statement to allies about U.S. commitment to collective defense and Arctic security, Adm. Stuart Munsch, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, said Wednesday.

Newport News is the first nuclear-powered submarine from any country to make a port call in Iceland, the Navy said.

The port call comes amid rising U.S. and NATO concerns about increased Russian and Chinese activity in a region rich with minerals, oil and gas. Rapid melting of sea ice also offers the possibility of new maritime trade routes in the High North.

Russia’s aggression in Ukraine and its behavior in places such as the Arctic have driven unity in NATO to a whole new level, Munsch said.

That commitment is evident in military exercises, operations and other activities that have put the U.S. and its allies in the bloc “in a position where we can deter the adversary and defend against them … and it’s been effective,” Munsch said.

“Yes, the Russians are more active,” he said. “They’re doing new and different things, but so are we.”

The ability to make the port call to Iceland, which paves the way for visits by other warships, is part of the equation in ensuring the U.S. and NATO stay ahead of competitors, he added.

Cmdr. Eric McCay, the Newport News commanding officer, noted that in 36 years, the submarine had earned three Arctic Service Ribbons, an award recognizing service performed above the Arctic Circle.

The now-decommissioned attack submarine USS San Juan stops for supplies and personnel April 26, 2023, off the coast of Iceland accompanied by an Icelandic coast guard ship. (U.S. Embassy Reykjavik)

The visit was further demonstration of the submarine’s dedication to safeguarding the region, McCay said.

“It really underscores the deepening security cooperation between the U.S. and Iceland,” he said.

Iceland decided a little more than two years ago to allow U.S. nuclear-powered submarines to occasionally enter its waters for visits, with the assurance that the country and its territorial waters would remain free of nuclear weapons.

At the time, Icelandic officials said the visits would help strengthen allies’ surveillance and response capabilities, ensuring improved situational awareness and increased safety of underwater infrastructure such as transmission cables.

In April 2023, the now-decommissioned attack submarine San Juan made a brief stop in waters off Iceland’s west coast for supplies and a personnel exchange. Wednesday’s port call was a significant step from the stopover of San Juan, the Navy said.

Like San Juan, Newport News does not carry nuclear weapons. It’s armed with Tomahawk missiles and MK-48 torpedoes, according to Navy.mil. It has a crew of about 143 and is homeported in Groton, Conn.

Iceland is part of a critical expanse of the north Atlantic Ocean known as the GIUK gap, which spans from Greenland to the U.K.

Controlling that gateway to the Atlantic is essential for homeland defense and blocking Russian submarines from threatening the U.S. eastern seaboard, Munsch said.

He added: “It’s important that people understand what a strong ally Iceland is.”

On July 9, 2025, a US nuclear-powered Navy submarine makes a historic port call in Iceland, marking the first time such a vessel has docked on Icelandic shores, as reported by U.S. Navy. The Los Angeles-class USS Newport News’ arrival at Grundartangi underscores the deepening US commitment to Arctic security and NATO’s collective defense posture, especially as Russia and China expand their activities in the region. This milestone visit comes as NATO recently ramped up air surveillance with an RQ-4D Phoenix drone mission covering the GIUK gap from Finland, further highlighting a shift in focus toward the High North. Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link

The arrival of the USS Newport News in Iceland is more than a symbolic gesture, it underscores a renewed Arctic vigilance amid evolving global security dynamics (Picture source: U.S. Navy)

The USS Newport News (SSN 750) represents one of the US Navy’s most capable fast-attack submarines, combining nuclear propulsion with a versatile multi-mission design. Equipped with Tomahawk cruise missiles, MK-48 torpedoes, and advanced sonar and surveillance systems, it excels in anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, intelligence gathering, and strike missions. Its deployment to Iceland demonstrates the Navy’s ability to project power and maintain forward presence even in challenging Arctic waters where undersea operations are becoming increasingly strategic.

Since its commissioning, USS Newport News has maintained an extensive operational record in the Atlantic and Arctic regions, earning three Arctic Service Ribbons for missions above the Arctic Circle. Its evolution reflects decades of technological improvements and crew training that keep it at the forefront of underwater operations. The decision by Iceland to open its ports to nuclear-powered but non-nuclear-armed submarines builds on earlier milestone stopovers like the USS San Juan’s brief supply visit in 2023, showing growing trust and interoperability with NATO allies.

Compared to older diesel-electric submarines or smaller regional fleets, a nuclear-powered attack submarine like USS Newport News offers unmatched endurance, stealth, and reach. Unlike its decommissioned predecessors, it can remain submerged for extended periods without surfacing for refueling, enabling persistent deterrence and surveillance along vital North Atlantic routes. Historically, the evolution from early Cold War attack submarines to today’s Los Angeles-class has set a standard for undersea dominance that rivals like Russia are actively trying to challenge in the same waters.

Strategically, this visit carries far-reaching geopolitical implications. It reinforces the US Navy’s commitment to secure the GIUK gap, a critical chokepoint for monitoring Russian submarine movement between the North Atlantic and the Arctic. Combined with NATO’s new RQ-4D drone missions from Finland, this marks a clear signal that the Alliance is bolstering situational awareness and response capabilities across the Arctic and North Atlantic. Iceland’s unique position at the heart of this maritime crossroads places it once again at the center of strategic planning for Arctic and transatlantic defense.

The USS Newport News belongs to a class that remains a core part of the US Navy’s undersea fleet, sustained through significant investments in nuclear propulsion and weapons systems. While specific budget figures for individual submarines remain classified, the ongoing modernization and maintenance contracts ensure that these boats remain operationally relevant. Groton, Connecticut continues to serve as a major hub for these vessels, and shipyards like Huntington Ingalls Newport News Shipbuilding remain among the key contractors supporting this critical fleet.

The arrival of the USS Newport News in Iceland is more than a symbolic gesture, it underscores a renewed Arctic vigilance amid evolving global security dynamics. Paired with NATO’s expanded air surveillance using high-end RQ-4 drones and coordinated efforts with Icelandic authorities, it sends a clear message that the US and its allies remain steadfast in safeguarding freedom of navigation and monitoring undersea activity in a region where strategic competition is only set to intensify.

A US Navy nuclear-powered submarine arrived in Iceland for the first time on Wednesday.

A top admiral told BI that USS Newport News’ visit sends a message to America’s adversaries.

It comes as the US looks to the Arctic with concern amid growing Russia and Chinese activity.

A US Navy nuclear-powered attack submarine stopped in Iceland for the first time on Wednesday. A top admiral told Business Insider that the unprecedented port call sent a message to American foes.

The first-of-its-kind visit to the Nordic island nation by the Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Newport News comes as the US and NATO allies look with increasing concern at the growing Russian military activity across the Arctic and High North.

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Adm. Stuart Munsch, the commander of US Naval Forces Europe-Africa, said there is value in having different options throughout the region where American submarines can make port visits.

Speaking to BI in a phone interview from the Icelandic capital, Reykjavik, Munsch said the submarine port call is “also important for the strategic signal it sends to adversaries about our presence in the area” and for the reassurance it provides to US allies.

The US views Iceland as a centerpiece within its Arctic strategy due to its strategic location. The country joined NATO as a founding member in 1949, but unlike other members of the alliance, it does not have a military. It, however, hosted Western troops during the Cold War, including a major American presence.

“The US, for many decades, maintained a naval air base here,” the admiral said of Iceland, and relied on assets stationed in the country “to track Soviet submarine operations, then Russian submarine operations.”

Los Angeles-class subs like Newport News make up a significant portion of the Navy’s fast-attack submarine fleet. US Navy photo by Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Kenji Shiroma/Released

Munsch said “it’s important to us to have additional options for where we can make strong port calls” and maintain a strong presence in the region that stretches from Greenland to Iceland and the United Kingdom. That’s a key point made in the Pentagon’s 2024 Arctic Strategy.

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While the strategy outlines Russia’s increasing military and economic interest in the Arctic, it also draws attention to China’s efforts to expand its influence in the region. The US sees Iceland as a key element of its security and deterrence efforts, as these two US rivals seek to project power into the strategic area.

Erin Sawyer, chargé d’affaires at the US Embassy in Iceland, said in a statement Wednesday that Washington and Reykjavik “maintain the shared goal of low tension in the Arctic, with full awareness of Russia’s efforts to build its military presence in the region.”

The Navy has been working with the Icelandic government for years, but mainly from a distance. For instance, an American vessel would pull up off the coast and maybe change out personnel or bring aboard supplies.

In 2023, Iceland welcomed the first US nuclear-powered sub into its territorial waters. But Newport News’ arrival in port this week — tied up to a pier and sending crew members ashore — marks a new moment in the relationship, Munsch said.

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Just over 40 Los Angeles-class submarines are in active service, making up a significant portion of the Navy’s fast-attack submarine fleet. Newer Virginia-class vessels have, however, taken on an increasingly central role. USS Newport News, a late-1980s Los Angeles-class sub, is armed with Tomahawk cruise missiles and torpedoes and has conducted missions around the globe.

US undersea capabilities are considered a cornerstone of American naval power. “The submarine force has been operating globally for many decades now,” Munsch said, “and there’s really no region that we have ever ceded to anyone else.”

Read the original article on Business Insider

The Virginia-class attack submarine USS Delaware arrived in Torshavn for a scheduled port visit June 26, 2023, marking the first time a U.S. nuclear-powered submarine has moored in the Faroe Islands. (Michael N. Mowry/U.S. Navy)

A port call in the Faroe Islands this week marked the first-ever visit by a U.S. nuclear-powered submarine to the North Atlantic archipelago, the Navy said.

The USS Delaware’s stop at the capital of Torshavn on Monday follows a similar visit by a U.S. nuclear-powered submarine in Iceland that came amid rising NATO and U.S. concerns about significant Russian underwater activity in the Atlantic Ocean.

The Faroe Islands and the High North are vital areas for U.S. submarine operations, Rear Adm. Stephen Mack, director of maritime operations for U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, said in a statement Tuesday.

In April, the USS San Juan made a stop for supplies and personnel off the coast of Iceland after such brief visits were approved with assurances that the country and its territorial waters would remain free of nuclear weapons.

The Virginia-class attack submarine USS Delaware arrived in Torshavn for a scheduled port visit June 26, 2023, marking the first time a U.S. nuclear powered submarine has moored in the Faroe Islands. (Michael N. Mowry/U.S. Navy)

That stopover came as Army Gen. Christopher Cavoli, the top U.S. military officer in Europe, told a congressional committee that Russian submarine patrols in the Atlantic were at higher levels than those seen in years.

The port call by Delaware, a Virginia class attack submarine, also comes after a Faroese government restriction earlier this month limited Russian access to its ports solely to fishing boats.

The self-governing island group, part of Denmark, is working to reduce the risk of espionage and has faced criticism following renewal of a bilateral fisheries accord with Russia in November, the news service Agence France-Press reported June 1.

The Faroe Islands comprise 18 mountainous islands located halfway between Iceland and Scotland in the North Atlantic. It has a population of about 50,000, of which about 40% is in Torshavn.

The Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Newport News (SSN 750) conducted a port visit in Iceland, marking the first time a nuclear-powered submarine pulls into port on Iceland’s shores, July 9, 2025.

U.S. Navy press release

“Today’s port visit is a pivotal moment, underscoring our unwavering commitment to collective defense and Arctic security,” said Adm. Stuart B. Munsch, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa (NAVEUR/NAVAF). “Our submarine forces are advanced and vital to ensuring the security of our nations and our Alliance – patrolling the depths and providing a deterrent in an increasingly complex and contested world.”

USS Newport News’ arrival is a significant step from 2023, when Iceland welcomed the first U.S. nuclear-powered submarine into their waters.

“The United States and Iceland maintain the shared goal of low tension in the Arctic, with full awareness of Russia’s efforts to build its military presence in the region,” said Erin Sawyer, Chargé d’affaires a.i. at the U.S. Embassy in Iceland. “Deep coordination with our incredible NATO ally Iceland to achieve this historic visit demonstrates our commitment to freedom of navigation and the security of our allies in the region.”

The visit not only underscores shared security goals but also showcases the dedication and skill of the U.S. Navy’s submarine force.

Newport News’ visit marks the first time a nuclear-powered submarine pulls into port on Iceland’s shores. Operating under U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, headquartered in Naples, Italy, fast-attack submarines routinely train and integrate with NATO Allies to enhance maritime security and regional stability across Europe and Africa. US Navy picture.

“It is an incredible honor for our submarine and crew to make history today with our cherished Ally, Iceland,” said Cmdr. Eric McCay, commanding officer of USS Newport News. “The Sailors on USS Newport News are dedicated, top-performing submariners who are truly excited to be here. In 36 years, this ship has earned 3 Arctic Service Ribbons, a service medal awarded for service performed above the Arctic Circle – a true demonstration of our submarine’s commitment and dedication to safeguarding this region.”

Fast-attack submarines are multi-mission platforms enabling five of the six Navy maritime strategy core capabilities – sea control, power projection, forward presence, maritime security and deterrence. They are designed to excel in anti-submarine warfare, anti-ship warfare, strike warfare, special operations, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, irregular warfare and mine warfare. Fast-attack submarines project power ashore with special operations forces and Tomahawk cruise missiles in the prevention or response to regional crises.

For over 80 years, NAVEUR/NAVAF has forged strategic relationships with Allies and partners, leveraging a foundation of shared values to preserve security and stability. Headquartered in Naples, Italy, NAVEUR/NAVAF operates U.S. naval forces in the U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command areas of responsibility.