Marco Rubio starts European tour in Iceland to boost security ties
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Reykjavik on Monday, launching a four-day European tour focused on economic and security collaboration that coincides with the redeployment of American B-1 bombers from Britain following security threats.
Iceland Talks Open Four-Day Tour
Rubio touched down in Iceland’s capital for talks with local officials scheduled for Monday, according to a Department of State statement. The visit marks the first leg of a diplomatic itinerary that will also bring the top US diplomat to Greece and Portugal.
Ahead of his departure, Rubio addressed reporters regarding the decision to move American aircraft out of the United Kingdom. He declined to directly connect the bomber withdrawal to a recent counter-terrorism police operation near an RAF base, stating that the Department of War constantly reallocates resources where needed. Rubio expressed full confidence in the security of all US installations and praised the cooperation of British authorities.
Bombers Redeployed Following Threat Assessment
The Pentagon confirmed on Sunday that all B-1 bombers previously deployed to RAF Fairford in southwest England had returned to their home stations in the United States. The aircraft had been used to launch strikes on Iranian targets.
Speculation surrounding the base intensified after police responded to reports of suspicious activity near the facility on September 27. British authorities subsequently arrested five men near the base on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts, while a sixth man—a dual UK-Iranian national—was detained and later released on bail in London. No explosives were discovered during the initial arrests.
President Donald Trump confirmed at the White House on Monday that specific threats drove the aircraft relocation. “There were some threats, and rather than tempting the enemy, we’ll capture the enemy and beat the enemy,” Trump told reporters before departing for an election event in Nebraska. Two US officials told The New York Times that commanders received new warnings regarding an Iran-backed plot that grew urgent within a 24-hour window.
While Iran’s Revolutionary Guard previously designated the Fairford base a legitimate target, Tehran denied any involvement in the incident. A NATO military source maintained that Iran still poses an acute threat to American assets in the UK.
Strategic Dialogues in Greece and Portugal
Following his stop in Iceland, Rubio is scheduled to travel to Greece to lead the US delegation at the sixth US-Greece Strategic Dialogue. Discussions in Athens will center on defense cooperation, regional stability, and energy security. He will conclude his European tour in Lisbon, where meetings will focus on defense, economic, and technology collaboration.