Photos: A large military force on the Reykjanes Peninsula

The defense exercise Norður Víkingur started this week and will last until Tuesday, September 3. The exercise is held on the basis of the bilateral defense agreement between Iceland and the United States from 1951 and normally takes place every two years.

"This kind of exercise emphasizes that Iceland is a country without an army, but certainly not defenseless, and this underlines active defense commitments," says Jónas G. Allanson, head of the Defense Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, about the defense exercise.

The main focus of the exercise is in and around the security area at Keflavík Airport, and the reporter for Morgunblaðið was there on Friday and talked to those who come to the exercise.

Allansson says that this year's exercise emphasizes maritime defense and most of it takes place out at sea. The air force also participates, as well as an active force on land, where the main focus is on the defense of infrastructure.

Among the exercises are e.g. critical infrastructure attack response, submarine patrol, mine disposal, search and rescue and medical transport.

About 1,200 people are taking part in the military exercise, including about 200 Icelanders from the Defense Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Coast Guard, the National Police, the Civil Defense and other institutions.

In addition to Iceland and the United States, forces, planes and ships from Denmark, France, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland and Portugal are participating in the exercise.

"These exercises are a deterrent. We are sending a clear message about this joint commitment and that it will hold," says Foreign Minister Þórdís Kolbrún R. Gylfadóttir.

Patrick Hayden, admiral of the US Navy's 6th Fleet, emphasized the importance of the exercise in a conversation with a journalist, saying that many challenging situations can arise that call for Iceland and the United States to work together.