Embassy News 2007
Hundreds of NATO Forces Conduct Military Exercise in Iceland
Over 300 military personnel from the U.S., Norway, Denmark and Latvia joined Icelandic police and Coast Guard units in a two-part military exercise to train crews in air defense and counter-terrorism measures in Iceland.
The exercise, Northern Viking 2007, took place August 13-16, and was the first exercise in Iceland since the closure of the U.S. Naval Air Station at Keflavik.
Assistant Secretary of Defense Thomas F. Hall and General William T. Hobbins, Commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe, joined Prime Minister Geir H. Haarde in an opening ceremony and press conference at Keflavik airport before the exercise began. General Hobbins reaffirmed the strong U.S. commitment to Iceland’s defense.
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| U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense Thomas F. Hall meets the press at the opening ceremonies of Northern Viking, held in Iceland from August 13-16. |
The exercise involved E-3A AWACS from NATO, a P-3C Orion surveillance plane from the Norwegian military, American F-15s and Norwegian F-16 fighter jets and two KC-135 refuellers.
The three-day exercise received daily coverage by the news media in Iceland, Norway and Latvia, which filmed parts of the exercise from aboard the aircraft.