What Happened
NATO Allies Strengthen Defense Against Russian, Chinese Challenges
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has signaled a renewed American push to strengthen security in the Arctic, warning that US adversaries and competitors are already acting in a region of growing strategic importance. Standing alongside Iceland’s foreign minister, Thorgerour Katrin Gunnarsdottir, Rubio cast Iceland as a critical link in the defense of North America and Europe. The trip comes as Russia’s military and covert capabilities and China’s expanding Arctic ambitions drive greater attention to the north, as reported by RFE/RL.