Britain’s Carrier Strike Group, led by HMS Prince of Wales, is actively contributing to the defense of Europe and the North Atlantic, with F-35 jets conducting NATO air policing operations from the carrier’s deck for the first time.
Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis MBE MP and Icelandic Foreign Minister Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir visited UK forces onboard HMS Prince of Wales, currently deployed off Iceland under NATO command.
Iceland plays a critical role in supporting allied operations in the region, and this collaboration strengthens security across the North Atlantic.
UK F-35 jets are patrolling the skies above Iceland and the High North from HMS Prince of Wales to counter escalating Russian threats, marking a historic first for NATO in conducting air policing missions from a European aircraft carrier.
The deployment includes over 1,500 British personnel across HMS Prince of Wales, Type 45 destroyer HMS Duncan, and RFA Tidespring, forming part of the Carrier Strike Group’s North Atlantic mission.
The Defence Secretary’s visit coincides with elite British troops assuming command of NATO’s high-readiness special operations force, effective 1 July. The force, a key component of the Alliance’s Allied Reaction Force, can deploy globally within days.
Simultaneously, the UK has taken command of NATO’s maritime component, led by Rear Admiral Mark Anderson. HMS Queen Elizabeth, recently refitted in Rosyth, will serve as the floating headquarters for the force later this year.
Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis MBE MP said:
It was an honour to visit our deployed personnel who are conducting operations that help keep our nation and our allies safe.
We live in an increasingly dangerous and uncertain time, and it’s deployments like this, supported by allies and partners including Iceland, that improve our deterrence and defence as part of NATO.
We are investing £298 billion over the next four years to strengthen readiness and ensure our people have the kit and technology they need.
I’m proud of our people and proud of the commitments we’re making to the alliance and to European security.
Icelandic Foreign Minister Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir said:
The visit of the UK Carrier Strike Group is a clear demonstration of NATO’s enhanced presence in this strategically important region, and one that Iceland is proud to support and contribute to.
NATO continues to strengthen its deterrence and defence, demonstrating Allied unity and resolve in the challenging environment of the North Atlantic and the Arctic. Activities such as Arctic Sentry reflect this shared commitment.
The Carrier Strike Group’s NATO mission aligns with the Defence Investment Plan, which allocates £240 million to develop drones for a Hybrid Carrier Air Wing, integrating jet-powered drones alongside F-35 fighters.
British forces are central to NATO’s resilience, readiness, and unity, with over 1,000 personnel embedded in NATO command structures. The UK also leads the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC) from Gloucestershire, supported by staff from 20 NATO allies.
UK forces remain at the forefront of NATO defense, including the 800-strong battlegroup in Estonia, Typhoon jets patrolling Romanian airspace, and RAF P-8 Poseidon and Rivet Joint aircraft monitoring the Baltic Sea.
As the sole European NATO member committing its full nuclear deterrent to the Alliance, the UK will join NATO’s Dual Capable Aircraft mission with F-35A jets. Supporting the Forward Land Forces in Estonia is the British Army’s 4th Brigade Combat Team, maintained at high readiness for rapid deployment.
UK-based RAF Quick Reaction Alert squadrons, operating 24/7, are integrated into NATO’s air defense system, safeguarding the northern air policing area.