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{{Short description|Combined military forces of Iceland}}
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[[File:2 Arrival of Thor - Icelandic Coast Guard 2011-10-27 Reykjavik.jpg|thumb|right|Icelandic Flagship [[ICGV Þór (2009)|ICGV Þór]], 27 October 2011, Reykjavík]]

[[Iceland]]'s defence forces consist of the [[Icelandic Coast Guard]], which patrols Icelandic waters and monitors its airspace, and other services such as the [[Police commissioner|National Commissioner]]'s [[Icelandic Police|National Security]] and the [[Viking Squad|Special Unit of the National Police Commissioner]].<ref>[http://www.vmsi.is/ Varnarmálastofnun Íslands.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111120062827/http://www.vmsi.is/ |date=2011-11-20 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.althingi.is/altext/stjt/2010.098.html|title=Lög um breytingu á varnarmálalögum, nr. 34/2008.|publisher=althingi.is |access-date=23 October 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.althingi.is/altext/stjt/2008.034.html|title=Varnarmálalög.|publisher=althingi.is |access-date=23 October 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lhg.is/landhelgisgaeslan/hlutverk/nr/10|title=Landhelgisgæsla Íslands Hlutverk.|access-date=23 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140706235242/http://www.lhg.is/landhelgisgaeslan/hlutverk/nr/10|archive-date=2014-07-06|url-status=dead}}</ref> Iceland maintains no [[standing army]], the only [[NATO]] member for which this is the case.

The Coast Guard consists of three ships and four aircraft and armed with [[Firearm|small arms]], [[naval artillery]], and [[Iceland Air Defence System|air defence radar stations]].<ref name="iads">{{cite web |url=http://www.iads.is/ |title=Archived copy |access-date=2007-01-30 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090420130141/http://www.iads.is/ |archive-date=2009-04-20 }}</ref> The Coast Guard also maintains the [[Iceland Air Defence System]], formerly part of the disestablished [[Iceland Defence Agency|Defence Agency]], which conducts surveillance from the ground of Iceland's air space.<ref name="iads"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aco.nato.int/page142085426.aspx|title=NATO Air Policing|publisher=NATO|access-date=23 October 2014|archive-date=24 January 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100124134809/http://www.aco.nato.int/page142085426.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Additionally, there is a [[Iceland Crisis Response Unit|Crisis Response Unit (ICRU)]], operated by the [[Ministry for Foreign Affairs (Iceland)|Ministry for Foreign Affairs]], which is a small [[peacekeeping]] force that has been deployed internationally, since 2008. This unit also has an unarmed component.

There is a treaty with the [[United States]], which until 2006 maintained the [[Naval Air Station Keflavik]], regarding the defence of Iceland. The base, now operated by the Icelandic Coast Guard, has been regularly visited by the US military and other allied NATO members.<ref>{{cite web |first=Trude |last=Pettersen
|date= February 10, 2016|url=https://thebarentsobserver.com/en/security/2016/02/us-military-returns-iceland |title=U.S. military returns to Iceland|publisher=The Independent Barents Observer AS}}</ref> In 2017 the United States announced its interest in renovating a hangar, in order to accommodate a [[Boeing P-8 Poseidon]] [[Anti-submarine warfare|ASW]] aircraft at the air base.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.airforcetimes.com/flashpoints/2017/12/17/us-plans-200-million-buildup-of-european-air-bases-flanking-russia/|title=US plans $200 million buildup of European air bases flanking Russia|first=Shawn|last=Snow|date=17 December 2017|publisher=Air Force Times }}</ref>

There are also agreements concerning military and other security operations with [[Norway]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.regjeringen.no/en/dep/ud/Press-Contacts/News/2007/mou-2.html?id=464488|title=Iceland and Norway sign MoU on security policy cooperation |date=26 April 2007 |publisher=Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs |access-date=23 October 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.regjeringen.no/upload/UD/Vedlegg/icelandmou.pdf|title=An English translation of the Norwegian-Icelandic MoU at the website of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs }}</ref> [[Denmark]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.norwaypost.no/cgi-bin/norwaypost/imaker?id=72317 |title=Norway Post: Norway and Iceland to sign defence agreement |publisher=[[Norway Post]] |access-date=23 October 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929092727/http://www.norwaypost.no/cgi-bin/norwaypost/imaker?id=72317 |archive-date=29 September 2007 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article1753031.ece Aftenposten: Norway to help defend Iceland] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629022120/http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article1753031.ece |date=2011-06-29 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dr.dk/Nyheder/Indland/2007/04/26/120138.htm?rss=true|title=Danmarks Radio|date=26 April 2007 |access-date=23 October 2014}}</ref> and other [[Member states of NATO|NATO countries]].

Iceland holds the annual [[List of NATO exercises|NATO exercises]] entitled [[Northern Viking]]. The most recent exercises were held in 2024,<ref>{{cite web | title=Northern Viking 2024 | website=DVIDS | date=2025-09-30 | url=https://www.dvidshub.net/feature/NorthernViking2024 | access-date=2025-10-04}}</ref> as well as the [[Explosive Ordnance Disposal|EOD]] exercise "[[Northern Challenge Exercise|Northern Challenge]]". In 1997 Iceland hosted its first [[Partnership for Peace]] (PfP) exercise, "[[Cooperative Safeguard]]", which is the only multilateral PfP exercise so far in which Russia has participated. Another major PfP exercise was hosted in 2000. Iceland has also contributed ICRU peacekeepers to [[Stabilisation Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina|SFOR]], [[Kosovo Force|KFOR]] and [[International Security Assistance Force|ISAF]].

Iceland has never participated in a full-scale [[war]] or invasion. Furthermore, the [[constitution of Iceland]] has no mechanism to declare war.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-07-14 |title=From Iceland — Ask A Historian: Has Iceland Ever Been Involved In Any Wars Or Conflicts |url=https://grapevine.is/mag/interview/2017/07/14/ask-a-historian-has-iceland-ever-been-involved-in-any-wars-or-conflicts/ |access-date=2020-10-17 |website=The Reykjavik Grapevine |language=en-US}}</ref>

== History ==
{{Main|Military history of Iceland}}

[[Image:HakonTheOldAndSkule-Flateyjarbok.jpg|thumb|220px|An illustration of [[Haakon IV of Norway|Hákon Hákonarson, King of Norway]], and [[Skule Bårdsson|Skúli Bárðarson]] from [[Flateyjarbók]]]]

In the period from the settlement of Iceland, in the 870s, until it became part of the realm of the Norwegian King, military defences of Iceland consisted of multiple chieftains (''Goðar'') and their free followers (''þingmenn'', ''bændur'' or ''liðsmenn'') organised according to the  standard Nordic military doctrine of the time in expeditionary armies such as the [[Leidang|''leiðangr'']]. These armies were divided into units according to the quality of the warriors and by birth. At the end of this period, the number of chieftains had diminished and their power had grown, to the detriment of their followers. This resulted in a long and bloody civil war known as [[Age of the Sturlungs]]. A typical battle involved fewer than 1000 men.

[[Amphibious warfare|Amphibious]] operations were an important part of warfare in Iceland in this period, especially in the [[Westfjords]], but large [[naval engagement]]s were rare. The largest such engagement, known as [[Flóabardagi]], involved a few dozen ships in [[Húnaflói]] (bay).

In the decades before the [[Napoleonic Wars]], the few hundred militiamen in the southwest of Iceland were mainly equipped with rusty and mostly obsolete medieval weaponry, including 16th-century [[halberd]]s. When British privateers arrived in 1808, after most of the [[Royal Dano-Norwegian Navy]] had been captured or destroyed in the [[Battle of Copenhagen (1807)|battle of Copenhagen]] in 1807, the amount of [[gunpowder]] in Iceland was so small that the governor of Iceland, [[Frederich Christopher Trampe, Count of Trampe]], could not offer any resistance.

In 1855, Andreas August von Kohl, the sheriff in [[Vestmannaeyjar]], wished to establish a citizen militia to protect the archipelago against foreign raiders and unruly fishermen. In 1856, the king provided 180 [[Danish rigsdaler|rixdollars]] to buy guns, and a further 200 rixdollars the following year. Kohl became the Captain of the new militia, which become known as ''Herfylkingin'', "The Battalion". In 1860 von Kohl died, and Pétur Bjarnasen took over command. Nine years later Bjarnasen died without appointing a successor, and the militia ceased to exist.{{cn|date=August 2024}}

[[Image:Icelandic Army 1940-2.png|thumb|Officers of the [[Military of Iceland#Independent Iceland|defence force]] in a trench on Vaðlaheiði in 1940]]
[[Image:Icelandic Army 1940.png|thumb|Agnar Kofoed Hansen training his officers in the arts of war in 1940]] 
In 1918, Iceland regained sovereignty as a [[Kingdom of Iceland|separate kingdom under the Danish king]]. Iceland established a Coast Guard shortly afterwards, but it was financially impossible to establish a standing army. The government hoped that a permanent neutrality would shield the country from invasion. But at the onset of [[Second World War]], the government was concerned about a possible invasion, and decided to expand the Icelandic National Police (''Ríkislögreglan'') and its reserves into a military unit. Chief Commissioner of Police Agnar Kofoed Hansen had been trained in the Danish Army and he moved to train his officers. Weapons and uniforms were acquired, and they practised rifleshooting and military tactics near [[Laugarvatn]]. Hansen barely managed to train his 60 officers before the [[United Kingdom]]'s [[invasion of Iceland]] on 10 May 1940. Agnar wanted to expand the forces, but the Icelandic Minister of Justice rejected his proposal.<ref>{{cite web |title=Efling lögreglunnar |url=https://timarit.is/page/1241611 |publisher=Morgunblaðið |access-date=12 February 2022 |language=is |date=20 July 1940}}</ref>

In mid-1941 while still neutral the [[United States]] took over the [[Allied occupation of Iceland#United States occupation|occupation of Iceland]] from the British but not with Iceland's approval. The stationing of US forces in Iceland continued well after the war, eventually codified in the [[Agreed Minute]]. In 1949 Iceland was a founding member of [[NATO]] and was the sole member that did not have a standing army, joining NATO on the condition that it would not be expected to establish one. However, its strategic geographic position in the Atlantic made it an invaluable member. Expansion of forces by Iceland was therefore concentrated primarily in the Icelandic Coast Guard, which saw action in a series of confrontations with British fishing vessels and [[Royal Navy]] warships known as the [[Cod Wars]]. None of the Cod Wars meet any of the common thresholds for a conventional war and they may more accurately be described as [[militarised interstate dispute]]s.<ref name="Steinsson2016">{{Cite journal |last=Steinsson |first=Sverrir |date=2016-03-22 |title=The Cod Wars: a re-analysis |journal=European Security |volume=25 |issue=2 |pages=256–275 |doi=10.1080/09662839.2016.1160376 |issn=0966-2839 |s2cid=155242560}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Hellmann |first1=Gunther |last2=Herborth |first2=Benjamin |date=2008-07-01 |title=Fishing in the mild West: democratic peace and militarised interstate disputes in the transatlantic community |journal=Review of International Studies |volume=34 |issue=3 |pages=481–506 |doi=10.1017/S0260210508008139 |issn=1469-9044 |s2cid=144997884}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Ireland |first1=Michael J. |last2=Gartner |first2=Scott Sigmund |date=2001-10-01 |title=Time to Fight: Government Type and Conflict Initiation in Parliamentary Systems |journal=The Journal of Conflict Resolution |volume=45 |issue=5 |pages=547–568 |doi=10.1177/0022002701045005001 |jstor=3176313 |s2cid=154973439}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Prins |first1=Brandon C. |last2=Sprecher |first2=Christopher |date=1999-05-01 |title=Institutional Constraints, Political Opposition, And Interstate Dispute Escalation: Evidence from Parliamentary Systems, 1946–89 |journal=Journal of Peace Research |volume=36 |issue=3 |pages=271–287 |doi=10.1177/0022343399036003002 |issn=0022-3433 |s2cid=110394899}}</ref>

The [[Iceland Defense Force|Iceland Defense Force (IDF)]] was a [[military]] [[command (military formation)|command]] of the [[United States Armed Forces]] from 1951 to 2006. The IDF, created at the request of NATO, came into existence when the United States signed an agreement to provide for the defense of Iceland. The IDF also consisted of civilian Icelanders and military members of other NATO nations. The IDF was downsized after the end of the [[Cold War]] and the [[U.S. Air Force]] maintained four to six [[interceptor aircraft]] at the [[Naval Air Station Keflavik]], until they were withdrawn on 30 September 2006. Since May 2008, NATO nations have periodically deployed fighters to patrol Icelandic airspace under the [[Icelandic Air Policing]] mission.<ref name = "French_Air_Force_in_Iceland">{{cite web|title = French Air Force in Iceland|url = http://www.mfa.is/speeches-and-articles/nr/4240|publisher = Ministry for Foreign Affairs|access-date = 2 October 2010|date = 5 May 2008|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110511081438/http://www.mfa.is/speeches-and-articles/nr/4240|archive-date = 11 May 2011|url-status = dead}}</ref><ref name = "NATO_ACO">{{cite web|title = Air Policing|url = http://www.aco.nato.int/page142085426.aspx|publisher = NATO Air Command Operations|access-date = 2 October 2010|archive-date = 24 January 2010|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100124134809/http://www.aco.nato.int/page142085426.aspx|url-status = dead}}</ref>
During the [[Icesave dispute]] with the British and Dutch governments, Iceland made it clear that UK patrols in its airspace were not appropriate given the state of affairs and subsequently on 14 November 2008 the UK had to cancel its patrols and defense of the Icelandic airspace, which before the dispute had been scheduled to start in December 2008.<ref name="USAToday">{{cite news | url = http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/world/2008-11-14-727094515_x.htm | title = British air force mission to Iceland scrapped |work=USA Today| date = 14 November 2008| access-date = 15 November 2008}}</ref>

After withdrawal of US forces in 2006, Iceland reorganized some military infrastructure in the form of the [[Icelandic Defence Agency]] (''Varnarmálastofnun Íslands'') founded in 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.varnarmalastofnun.is/grein.php?id_grein=87 |title=Varnarmálastofnun |access-date=2014-10-21 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090203121341/http://varnarmalastofnun.is/grein.php?id_grein=87 |archive-date=2009-02-03 }}</ref> under the Minister for Foreign Affairs. The Agency took over operations at [[Naval Air Station Keflavik]], but was closed in 2011 in the wake of the economic crisis, with functions distributed to the existing organizations.
<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/europe/is-ida.htm|title=Iceland|author=John Pike|access-date=23 October 2014}}</ref> The Icelandic Coast Guard now handles the military infrastructure in the country.

{{See also|History of Iceland}}

== Coast Guard ==
[[Image:Iceland Coast Guard vessel types.jpg|thumb|Icelandic Coast Guard vessels. [[ICGV Týr|Týr]] in the center.]]
{{Main|Icelandic Coast Guard}}
Shortly after Iceland reclaimed its sovereignty in 1918, the Icelandic Coast Guard was founded. Its first vessel, a former Danish research vessel, was armed with a 57&nbsp;mm cannon. The Coast Guard is responsible for protecting Iceland's sovereignty and vital interests including the most valuable natural resource—its fishing areas—as well as providing security, search, and rescue services to Iceland's fishing fleet. In 1952, 1958, 1972, and 1975, the government progressively expanded Iceland's exclusive economic zone to {{convert|4|, |12|, |50|, and|200|nmi|km|0|abbr=off}}. This led to a conflict with the United Kingdom, among other states, known as the "[[Cod War]]s". The Icelandic Coast Guard and the Royal Navy confronted each other on several occasions during these years. Although few rounds were fired, there were many intense moments. Today the Coast Guard remains Iceland's premier fighting force equipped with armed patrol vessels and aircraft and partaking in peacekeeping operations in foreign lands.

The Coast Guard has four vessels and four aircraft (one fixed wing and three helicopters) at their disposal.

=== Iceland Air Defence System ===
{{main|Iceland Air Defence System}}
[[Image:Iceland Forces.png|thumb|Structure of the Icelandic Forces]]
The Iceland Air Defence System or ''Íslenska Loftvarnarkerfið'' was founded in 1987, and operates four [[radar]] complexes, a [[software]] and support facility and a command and report centre. It is a part of the Coast Guard.

Iceland's NATO allies also regularly deploy [[fighter aircraft]] to patrol the country's airspace as part of the [[Icelandic Air Policing]] mission.<ref name="NATO_ACO"/><ref>{{Cite web |last=daniella |date=2024-11-18 |title=Security and Defence {{!}} Landhelgisgæsla Íslands |url=https://www.lhg.is/en/security-and-defence/ |access-date=2025-08-26 |website=Icelandic Coast Guard Security and Defence |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Icelandic Crisis Response Unit ==
{{Main|Icelandic Crisis Response Unit}}

The Icelandic Crisis Response Unit (ICRU) (or ''Íslenska friðargæslan'' or "The Icelandic Peacekeeping Guard") is an expeditionary peacekeeping force maintained by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.  It is composed of personnel from Iceland's other services, armed or not, including the [[National Police of Iceland|National Police]], Coast Guard, emergency services and healthcare system.  Because of the military nature of most of the ICRU's assignments, all of its members receive basic infantry combat training. This training has often been conducted by the [[Norwegian Army]], but the Coast Guard and the Special Forces are also assigned to train the ICRU.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}}

Most of the ICRU's camouflage and weaponry is procured from abroad, with some indigenous development. Some arms and uniforms are also borrowed from the [[Norwegian Defence Forces]].{{citation needed|date=July 2022}}

The formation and employment of the unit have met controversy in Iceland, especially by people on the left of the political scale. In October 2004, three ICRU personnel were wounded in a [[Suicide attack|suicide bombing]] on [[Chicken Street]] in [[Kabul]] that killed a 13-year old Afghan girl and a 23-year old American woman.<ref>{{cite news |title=Látna afganska stúlkan var fyrirvinna átta manna fjölskyldu |url=https://timarit.is/page/3738588? |access-date=1 July 2022 |work=[[Fréttablaðið]] |date=14 November 2004 |pages=4–5 |language=Icelandic |via=[[Tímarit.is]]}} {{open access}}</ref> The incident resulted in severe criticism of the group's commander, [[Colonel]] Hallgrímur Sigurðsson, as despite orders not to leave [[Kabul Airport]] unless absolutely necessary, he took the group to Chicken Street to shop carpets.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sóttu teppi í skotmark hryðjuverkamanna |url=https://timarit.is/page/3737869 |access-date=1 July 2022 |work=[[Fréttablaðið]] |date=27 October 2004 |page=1 |language=Icelandic |via=[[Tímarit.is]]}} {{open access}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Hafa réttarstöðu hermanna í NATO |url=https://timarit.is/page/3613882 |access-date=1 July 2022 |work=[[Morgunblaðið]] |date=4 November 2004 |page=10 |language=Icelandic |via=[[Tímarit.is]]}} {{open access}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The little island that took on the world |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/the-little-island-that-took-on-the-world-5350527.html |website=The Independent |access-date=29 January 2021 |language=en |date=17 September 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Spjótunum beint að Hallgrími Sigurðssyni |url=https://timarit.is/page/3738650 |access-date=1 July 2022 |work=[[Morgunblaðið]] |date=15 November 2004 |page=14 |language=Icelandic |via=[[Tímarit.is]]}} {{open access}}</ref> Few weeks later, his command was passed to Lt. Colonel Garðar Forberg,<ref>{{cite news |author1=Örlygur Steinn Sigurjónsson |title=Hefði óskað þess heitast að sleppa ferðinni |url=https://timarit.is/page/3618967 |access-date=1 July 2022 |work=[[Morgunblaðið]] |date=1 December 2004 |page=6 |language=Icelandic |via=[[Tímarit.is]]}} {{open access}}</ref> followed by Colonel Lárus Atlason.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}}

In 2008, the uniformed ICRU deployed personnel still armed for self-defense returned their weapons and changed to civilian clothing. The policy since 2008 is that, unless under special circumstances, ICRU personnel do not wear uniforms or carry weapons.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}}

=== ICRU missions ===
The ICRU has been or is operating in:
[[File:ICRU missions.png|thumb|ICRU missions]]
* '''Military missions''':
** {{flagcountry|Afghanistan|2004}} within [[International Security Assistance Force|ISAF]]
** {{flagcountry|Iraq}} within NTM-1 (and the Coast Guard within [[Dancon/Irak]])
** {{flagcountry|Kosovo}}, within KFOR
* '''Civilian missions''':
** {{flagcountry|Bosnia-Herzegovina}} within [[European Union Police Mission|EUPM]]
** {{flagcountry|Lebanon}} within the Mine Action Coordination Center for South Lebanon (MACC-SL)
** {{flagcountry|Sri Lanka}} within [[SLMM]]

== List of small-arms used by Icelandic forces ==
* {{Flagicon|AUT}} [[Glock 17]] — Sidearm (Pistol)
*{{Flagicon|NOR}} [[Heckler & Koch G3|AG-3]] — Battle Rifle
* {{Flagicon|GER}} [[Heckler & Koch MP5]] — Sub-Machine Gun
* {{Flagicon|GER}} [[Blaser 93 Tactical|Blaser R93]] — Sniper Rifle
* {{Flagicon|GER}} [[Rheinmetall MG3]] – General-Purpose Machine Gun

== See also ==
* [[List of countries without armed forces]]
* [[List of wars involving Iceland]]
* [[GIUK gap]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== Further reading ==
* Birgir Loftsson, ''Hernaðarsaga Íslands : 1170–1581'', Pjaxi. Reykjavík. 2006.
* Þór Whitehead, ''The Ally who came in from the cold : a survey of Icelandic Foreign Policy 1946–1956'', Centre for International Studies. University of Iceland Press. Reykjavík. 1998.

== External links ==
{{Commons category |Military of Iceland}}
* [http://www.lhg.is Icelandic Coast Guard]
* [http://www.logreglan.is Icelandic National Police]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090420130141/http://www.iads.is/ Iceland Air Defence System]
* [http://www.domsmalaraduneyti.is Ministry of Justice and Ecclesiastical Affairs]
* [http://www.utanrikisraduneyti.is Ministry for Foreign Affairs]

{{Iceland topics}}
{{Law enforcement in Iceland}}
{{Military of Europe}}
{{North Atlantic Treaty Organization}}

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