US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Reykjavik, Iceland, on October 5, 2026, as part of a four-day European tour that will also include visits to Greece and Portugal. According to a statement from the Department of State, the agenda for his discussions with Icelandic officials includes 'economic and security collaboration.'
Before his departure, Rubio addressed reporters regarding the US decision to remove its B-1 bombers from Britain’s Fairford airbase, stating he would not directly link this decision to a recent incident involving the arrest of five British men on suspicion of preparing 'terrorist acts.' He noted, 'I wouldn’t just directly tie that to the move that was made,' and added that 'the Department of War is constantly reallocating resources where they need to be.'
Rubio expressed confidence in the security of all US bases and acknowledged the cooperation of authorities in the United Kingdom. The five men arrested near the base were later released on bail, along with a sixth individual, a dual UK-Iranian national, who was arrested separately in London.
B-1 bombers, which had previously conducted strikes on Iran, have returned to the US. President Donald Trump confirmed that 'some threats' influenced the decision to withdraw the bombers from the UK, stating, 'There were some threats, and rather than tempting the enemy, we’ll capture the enemy and beat the enemy. But why should we leave them there? So we moved them around a little bit, not very far.'
A NATO military source indicated that Iran is still considered a significant threat to US assets in the UK. Iran's Revolutionary Guard has previously labeled the Fairford base a legitimate target, though Tehran has denied any connection to the recent incident.
Rubio's itinerary includes leading the US delegation for the sixth US-Greece Strategic Dialogue, which will focus on defense cooperation and regional and energy security. He is expected to conclude his tour in Lisbon, Portugal, discussing defense, economic, and technology cooperation.