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When I was serving in the military, I was told, "Iceland is a very friendly country. In fact at Keflavik , there was a girl behind every tree!" I spoke with people who had deployed there and they told me that it was true. There was in fact a girl behind "Every" tree. There just weren't any trees.

As as Lithuanian, I am very thankful to Iceland for being the first country to acknowledge Lithuania's independence from shit sssr ❤

Glad to have served at Naval Air Station (NAS) Keflavik from 1979-80. We were always tracking Russian air and naval surface units plus submarines. Side benefit was an opportunity to see really unspoiled, wild spaces at every turn!

My guess is that if Iceland has to host the biggest fleet battles, the servers will lag really bad.

I served in KFOR in Kosovo under Icelandic command in 2003/2004. Iceland was the lead nation to run Prishtina Airport with 5+ Icelandic officers in key positions together with members from 13 other NATO nations.

08:13, you say there are no military personnel on the island, this is false. Keflavík hosts a rotating NATO air policing mission from fellow member states. In recent years the US Navy has stationed a number of P8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft year-round, any visitor to Keflavík can see them. NATO member navies are regular visitors to Reykjavik, even including the UK’s Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers

The U.S.S. Iceland is huge and unsinkable, though glacially slow.

Their location is worth so much more than the 2% of their budget that NATO asks them to spend on military. If someone tried to put a dollar number of Icelandic military bases NATO can use, I'm fairly sure that's more than 2% of Icelands annual budget.

In regards of Russia Iceland has already sent the US ambassador and his staff home as a protest to the invasion in Ukraine. Iceland has also closed its embassy in Russia. In regards of the Cod Wars then it should be mentioned that the UK lost three times. UK couldn't invade Iceland (NATO founding member) again or sink their coast guard ships. If UK had gone to war against Iceland I am certain that the other Nordic nations would have stepped in some way. Iceland was supposed to get gun boats from the US but USA stalled the delivery as they feared that it would lead to deadly conflicts between Iceland and the UK. What Iceland was protecting by the Cod Wars was its economy as it was heavily based on fishing. UK had already overfished in its own waters and was plundering the sea around Iceland affecting the fish stock and the future of fishing around Iceland. Therefore the only thing Iceland could do was to expand its economic zone. After Iceland beat the UK for the 3rd and final time all other coastal nations implemented the same 200 nautical mile economic zone. Iceland actually has implemented a fishing quota system that has had a great impact on the quantity of fish in their waters. The quota system is based on science, not politics, and it has had a major impact on the wealth of the nation.

The preeminent example of the phrase 'Location, Location, Location!'

Old enough to remember the Cod Wars on the news. Always on Iceland's side !

Great presentation, lad. The only serious omission was the Hoyvik Agreement, which cemented the powerhouse alliance between Iceland and the Faroe Islands. They might both have tiny populations, but (as you point out) location is everything, and when you add the location of the Faroes, so close to both Scotland and Norway, this is truly the littlest mouse that politely roars in North Atlantic.

Keflavik airport has been Iceland main international airport since the end of the WW2

Iceland also has strong connections to other Nordic nations. Norway, Sweden and Finland. And they all share a similar shaped national flag, with a cross motif.

My father is an old school Reagan era Republican and he will always correct you if you call nato a military alliance. He will say, no, it's a, defensive organization. If you point out they have taken offensive action multiple times in conflicts outside of their member states, he says, yes, that was because they were defending somebody else. There is no reasoning with these people

I enjoyed my year as a USAF member on NAS Keflavic. 960th AWACS, 1991-92.

Iceland is lucky that its ally is USA. If its ally was Soviet Union, they would got annexed before long.

Things are about to get spICY!! 🥶🥶

Iceland has a military. They just don't have a standing army. But they maintain special forces, coast guard and a national security force. They've even sent military medical doctors to UN missions.

Kudos for good pronounceation of Icelandic words ;)

It has a small coastguard, but that isn’t really a full on military. But as it is explained as I’m watching the video, the geographic location of Iceland allows it to only have a small coastguard, but it is also fairly close to Norway who is also in NATO, Norway is willing to defend their fellow neighbor at all costs if an invasion from Russia or it’s allies.

A country with no military? I thought he was going to say my country: Canada

30 nations. 31 if you count Sweden. Turkey isn't much of an ally.

In Tom Clancy's WW3 magnum opus, Red Storm Rising, Iceland was one of the major settings.

With a population of only 350K what could they afford as a military?

correction iceland has a coast guard

One thing about England and then the US occupying Iceland. The English didn't ask. The Americans did. From 1992 to 1994, I made regular visits to the four radar stations mentioned @10:07 as part of a quality assurance team.

If there are ever any real problems, legends say that the Eagles and the Falcons will return to defend Iceland. And they will be joined by Raptors and Lightning.

Not a word on the Regan-Gorbachev meeting back in 1986 that had a huge impact.

Volcanic behavior of its soil, Iceland need not armed forces

They have no military, but what about a navy ?

I am baffled that Iceland has a Costco

if global warming continues to melt the arctic ice cap. the GIUK gap will not be quite as significant. the Russians will have a second route and will be able to creep out the opposite direction. this time with less inteference as there isn't much the Americans can do without Moscow kicking off

Just chillin’ on this one 🥶

Iceland - NATO’s (The US’s) favorite sugar baby 😂

the UK invaded Iceland in WWII, just to make sure the bad guys couldn't do it first. total good guy move.

7 out of 10 for accuracy.

WRONG The hell if NATO was created to confront the USSR. It was created to defend against it.

I thought you were talking about canada

Flash backs to operation polar glory from Red Storm Rising

Ísland - bezt í heimi!

In real estate and military advantage it's location, location, location.

12:19 What does Tokyo have to do with China?

Always the PRIMARY attribute of " Desirable " Real Estate . Location, Location , Location .

Amazed this video isn't about Canada.

There are days someone would just do us a favour and occupy us, maybe Denmark or Norway just take us back. Aluminum production is just a tiny part of the economy with the total job supplied is 2.000 and total of 5.000 if all the supporting jobs are needs.... and no vikings from Iceland.

as a Swede, i want us to join NATO, but then Turkey showing us that they CLEARLY support Russia, i am not sure i want us to be a member of NATO. NATO need to make clear to Turkey to ditch its relations to Russia or exclude Turkey from NATO all together!

Simon rang he'd like his shirt back

Go Iceland!

But Iceland has volcanos, earthquakes, waterfalls, and lots of magma/lava!

Answers to your questions are Yes, yes, yes, yes, & yes.

N - No A - Action T - Talk O - Only NATO cannot help Ukraine on its own.

As opposed to "supposedly neutral" Switzerland which allows its citizen army to take military assault rifles home. Not just guns but full kit. The army can be mobilized for national defense at a moment's notice.

The weather in your fantasy land must really suck these days guys.

How much of their GDP do they contribute to NATO? NATO requires 2% of GDP being spent on a country's military to remain in NATO. With no military, they don't meet the requirements.

Red Storm Rising

Nice

Iceland 🇮🇸 ❤

The thing is, the threat never left then Soviet Union broke down, it remained in a different shape and form, idle / sleeping until Soviet v2.0 was active, and Soviet 2.0 was launched in 2000. West, stupid as they still are, did not see it and thought it was Russia the democratic country..

Niceland.

Iceland blackmailing? Who would think these Vikings would do such thing? 😂

Portugal military is so ridiculous we also are a member with zero military

I think of a famous chess match...

Iceland “coastguard” look it up or the “not military” deployed to Afghanistan:-)

Did Ireland not drop down the list after the nonsense that was last week ?

I didn't know you could belong to NATO without a military...

Panama only reason of not having a military is due to Costa Rica's influence! Should check history and make a video on that...

There is Norwegian f35 stationed in Island

Common Icelandic W!

luxembourg has no military

If you ask Frankie Boyle he will tell you NATO is a Scottish guy who lost his feet to diabetes !!

Why are there no trees on Iceland?

America has enough military for all 😊

Due to lack of funds...

Iceland, descendants of Vikings. They just have to put on their horned hats and hop in their rowboats.

No reflection on its members, but I thought that this was going to be about today's Canada, with a military that is slowly disappearing and in which only social justice will prevail.

Folks! Soft power does exist.

Many ways. Finance, environmental, industrial espionage. Etc. Archangel Michael

Iceland US Protectorate.

The most peaceful country in the world and Norway is not on the list? lol Norway is on same level a Iceland almost!

Costa Rica best peaceful country ,no army

The first of the 4 neutral countries invaded on May 10, 1940.

Some republicans claim that the United States cannot foot the bill of a long, drawn-out war in Ukraine, a faction of Republican lawmakers is threatening to shut down the US government if further Ukraine funding is included in a continuing resolution. But this approach does not take into consideration the benefits to US strategic interests and the American economy. A large portion of the money if not nearly all of it is “designated for Ukraine” is being reinvested in American companies and other military industrial complex , bolstering the defense industry and sustaining American manufacturing jobs for American workers; in over 35 different states in the country all those states badly need those investments and jobs for their citizens. Despite claims to the contrary, the United States is not sending bags of unaccounted-for cash to Ukraine. Most US contributions go to military aid, including weapons and equipment made by American defense contractors who employ communities across the country. When the United States spends money to purchase military equipment as part of an international aid package, the materiel may go overseas, but the money and jobs stay in America. Similarly, appropriations for the US Foreign Military Financing program provide incentives for NATO allies and partners to secure US-made capabilities. This translates to more business for US companies and sustained employment for rural communities in which they operate. For instance, Lockheed Martin, maker of the HIMARS-which has been central to Ukraine’s counteroffensive-plans to increase its Camden, Arkansas facility’s workforce by 20%, and recently announced increased profit projections through the end of the year. Similarly, General Dynamics has committed to building new production facilities in Mesquite, Texas, bringing money and jobs to the region. Change like this takes place only when the Pentagon sends strong and stable market signals to the defense industry, giving it the confidence to expand and hire. In short, the numbers suggest that continued support for Ukraine is a win-win for Ukrainians and the American people. The United States can continue to defend stability and democratic governance across the globe, while at the same time boosting American industrial output and advancing US economic interests.

Britain lost the cod wars.

Iceland is pretty cool!

🎉

It's very belligerent talk to speak of battles with Russia when there is no declared war and NATO is the one with the declared policy of destroying Russia?

I think I have a crush on this guy. He’s super handsome 😍

"world" has an r sound........

"Aggressively expanding its zones without negotiating with the UK" LOL. British arrogance much?

Denmark is the provider of Island..Not the f.. states or others..we are! Get your history together

Wrong again.. We in Denmark is the blockade to shit comming from overseas..theck your wisdom, before boosting out wrongs!

How does Iceland even defend itself without an army?

Sometimes just remain neutral.

What an egocentric mind.

whew... seems like you guys got a virus, i'm sorry to hear. you really scared me when you told me i won a million though 😥shouldn't have clicked those suspicious links :) .

On your NATO memeber states map, you forgot to mention one of the smallest kingdoms of the EU, one with the smallest army of NATO (ca. a 1000 people), a founding member of NATO, and often supported NATO-operations with it's neighbours: Belgium and The Netherlands (together these states form the BENELUX... Yep, I'm talking about Luxemburg. ;-) Surrounded by land only, it has no navy or airdefence (it defends itself via a treaty with BENELUX), and provides pilots and money to fly Belgium and Dutch F16's (soon F35's) in a treaty to protect their airspace together. A treaty, that will probably (we hope) lead to a bigger, EU-protection mechanism within the EU. This is the base for a EDF (European Defence Force). Not to be mistaken by the local army's or the different states or NATO itself. ;-)

@rodneykelly8768 As I understood, You were not there. Russians were actually behind grass leaves. Those Your idiotical instructors had just poor knowledge of botanics. Otherwise correct...! Don't forget seamen's stories. Full of bs. too..!

Useless