During the Cold War, Iceland allowed NATO Allies to station troops on its strategically critical island and volunteered the Icelandic Coast Guard to assist the Organization, activities that were pursued after the fall of the Berlin Wall. But despite this internal ambivalence, Iceland has continuously contributed as a valuable member of NATO, based on shared values and unity, democracy and freedom. Throughout the Cold War, Iceland had several national debates about whether or not to withdraw from NATO. So the decision to join the Alliance as a founding member in 1949 was controversial. Icelanders have long been proud of their country’s pacifist tradition, which goes back further than its independence from Denmark in 1944. Iceland, unique among NATO Allies, does not have a military.

Speaking at the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty

Bjarni Benediktsson, Foreign Minister of Iceland We neither have nor can have an army… But our country is, under certain circumstances, of vital importance for the safety of the North Atlantic area. My people are unarmed and have been unarmed since the days of our Viking forefathers.

Us navy ship manifests for vietnam war