Marine Barracks Iceland

Marine Barracks Iceland was a United States Marine Corps installation established near Keflavík, Iceland, during the early years of the Cold War. Activated in 1941 following the occupation of Iceland by Allied forces, the unit’s primary mission was to defend the strategically vital Keflavík Airport and the surrounding area from potential Axis attacks. Throughout the Cold War, Marines stationed at the barracks played a key role in NATO’s North Atlantic defense, serving as a rapid response and security force for American and allied assets. The barracks remained active until the mid-1990s, when changing geopolitical priorities led to the drawdown and eventual closure of U.S. military facilities in Iceland.