Office of the Historian

183. National Security Decision Memorandum 2341

Washington, October 2, 1973.

TO

  • The Secretary of State
  • The Secretary of Defense
  • The Chairman, NSC Under Secretaries Committee

SUBJECT

  • US-Icelandic Defense Negotiations

The President has considered the review of U.S. Relations with Iceland forwarded by the Chairman, NSC Under Secretaries Committee on September 20, 1973.

The President has approved negotiations with Iceland relating to the US-Icelandic Defense Agreement as recommended by the Under Secretaries Committee, with the understanding that the following guidelines will shape the U.S. position:

—There should be no formal modifications to the US-Icelandic Defense Agreement of 1951.

—The United States will undertake to phase out certain military personnel in the manner recommended by the Under Secretaries Committee.

—The United States will undertake to have all U.S. IDF personnel housed on base within the next three years.

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—The United States will undertake other practical modifications, including the separation of the military and civilian air terminals and the increased contracting of Icelandic services.

—The United States will keep the Keflavik base television signal out of Reykjavik should the Government of Iceland so request.

—The United States will press the Government of Iceland to ease or eliminate current restrictions applying to U.S. personnel.

In approving the U.S. position for these negotiations, the President again emphasizes the importance of retaining Iceland in NATO and retaining US-manned NATO facilities in Iceland.

The President has directed that the senior U.S. Negotiator should submit a report on the results of these negotiations, including such ad referendum agreements as may be developed, for his review as soon as possible.

Henry A. Kissinger
  1. Summary: The President approved guidelines for the U.S.-Icelandic defense negotiations.

    Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–242, Policy Papers, 1969–1974, NSDM–234. Secret. Copies were sent to the DCI and the Chairman of the JCS. The first round of negotiations was held in Washington. (Memorandum of conversation, October 4; Washington National Records Center, OSD Files: FRC 330–78–0001, Iceland 092 20 Oct 73)

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