WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The United States might be considering using Iceland’s Naval Air Station Keflavik to fly its P-8A Poseidon spy planes amid Russia’s increased air and sea presence in the North Atlantic region, US media reported.
"Thanks to increased Russian air and sea activity in the North Atlantic, however, the US Navy is taking a new look at Keflavik," Foreign Policy reported on Thursday.
The reports of Washington’s consideration of Keflavik come as the US Navy is requesting $19 million to partially reopen parts of the Keflavik air station in order to land Poseidon planes, the report noted.
"The Poseidon specializes in submarine tracking, and with Russian sub[marine] activity in the Baltic and North Atlantic surpassing Cold War levels, the Pentagon is looking to move back in," the report added.
Over the summer, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Moscow’s new maritime strategy included enhancing its existing naval presence in the Atlantic and Artic regions.
