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# Iceland

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Learn More								U.S. Relationship																									These are excerpts from the U.S. Relations With Iceland																			-  												U.S.-Iceland Relations											 
-  												U.S. Assistance to Iceland											 
-  												Bilateral Economic Relations											 
													U.S.-Iceland Relations													The United States was the first country to recognize Iceland’s independence in 1944 following Danish rule. Iceland is a founding member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) but has no standing military of its own. The United States and Iceland signed a bilateral defense agreement in 1951; it remains in force, although U.S. military forces are no longer permanentlyThe United States was the first country to recognize Iceland’s independence in 1944 following Danish rule. Iceland is a founding member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) but has no standing military of its own. The United States and Iceland signed a bilateral defense agreement in 1951; it remains in force, although U.S. military forces are no longer permanently stationed in Iceland.Collapse U.S.-Iceland Relations															Read more about U.S.-Iceland Relations																												U.S. Assistance to Iceland													The 1951 bilateral defense agreement stipulated that the U.S. would make arrangements for Iceland’s defense on behalf of NATO and provided for basing rights for U.S. forces in Iceland. In 2006 the U.S. announced it would continue to provide for Iceland’s defense but without permanently basing forces in the country. That year, Naval Air Station Keflavik closed, and the twoThe 1951 bilateral defense agreement stipulated that the U.S. would make arrangements for Iceland’s defense on behalf of NATO and provided for basing rights for U.S. forces in Iceland. In 2006 the U.S. announced it would continue to provide for Iceland’s defense but without permanently basing forces in the country. That year, Naval Air Station Keflavik closed, and the two countries signed a technical agreement on base closure issues (e.g., facilities return, environmental cleanup, residual value) and a “joint understanding” on future bilateral security cooperation focusing on defending Iceland and the North Atlantic region against emerging threats such as terrorism and trafficking. The United States also worked with local officials to mitigate the impact of job losses at the Air Station, notably by encouraging U.S. investment in industry and tourism development in the Keflavik area. A new Joint Declaration between the United States and Iceland was signed in 2016, supplementing the 2006 declaration. Cooperative activities in the context of the agreements have included joint search and rescue, disaster surveillance, and maritime interdiction training with U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard units; and U.S. deployments to support the NATO air surveillance mission in Iceland.Collapse U.S. Assistance to Iceland															Read more about U.S. Assistance to Iceland																												Bilateral Economic Relations													The United States seeks to strengthen bilateral economic and trade relations. The United States is Iceland’s single largest trading partner, although most of Iceland’s exports go to the European Union (EU) and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries. The U.S. is one of the largest foreign investors in Iceland, primarily in the aluminum sector. The United States and IcelandThe United States seeks to strengthen bilateral economic and trade relations. The United States is Iceland’s single largest trading partner, although most of Iceland’s exports go to the European Union (EU) and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries. The U.S. is one of the largest foreign investors in Iceland, primarily in the aluminum sector. The United States and Iceland signed a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement in 2009.Collapse Bilateral Economic Relations															Read more about Bilateral Economic Relations															Integrated Country Strategies
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HighlightsApril 11, 2024
United States-Iceland Economic Partnership Dialogue
February 22, 2024
Reykjavik, Iceland: International School of Iceland: 2024 Special Needs Profile
November 13, 2023
Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues Rao Gupta Travels to Iceland
November 3, 2023
Reykjavik, Iceland: International School of Iceland: 2023-2024 Fact Sheet
August 25, 2023
Expanding the Global Equality Fund and Protecting Human Rights with New International Partners
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