Danish Navy and Icelandic Coast Guard enhance Arctic cooperation with joint drills ahead of a significant NATO operation in Greenland.
The Royal Danish Navy and Icelandic Coast Guard conducted joint exercises in Iceland as part of efforts to demonstrate a strong Arctic presence, reported Fort Lauderdale's Maritime Executive.
The training served as a prelude to a larger NATO exercise in Greenland. Denmark and Iceland emphasized their long-standing cooperation, with Danish patrol vessels regularly operating in Icelandic waters to support safety in the Arctic.
Iceland deployed the ICGV Freyja, a 4,500 GT offshore vessel acquired in 2021 to bolster patrol capacity amid rising cargo, tanker, and cruise traffic. The Danish patrol ship Thetis, which has participated in NATO's Arctic Light exercise, joined the drills.
Scenarios staged on January 10-11 included Freyja issuing a simulated distress call over a hull leak, with Danish crews responding in small boats. A Danish medical team also assisted in a mock accident, testing emergency coordination.
Following the exercise, Danish naval vessels patrolled Greenland's coast.
