Maj Gen Bruno Beeckmans, commander of the Belgian air force, said the aircraft were providing a 24-hour quick reaction alert capability and would train alongside Nato maritime, special forces and other air assets.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re very delighted to bring our professional air power as a part of the Nato contribution to protect,\u201d he told the Telegraph.<\/p>\n
But Iceland is not simply relying on its allies. Its civilian institutions are increasingly being forced to perform roles normally associated with a military.<\/p>\n
Describing Keflavik airbase as the \u201ceyes and ears of the North\u201d, Marvin Ing\u00f3lfsson, the base\u2019s deputy commander, said the work there was becoming increasingly militarised.<\/p>\n
\u201cIceland has no standing officers of course. But we have the national police, we have the coast guard and we are basically conducting jobs that you can see a military doing. And of course, many of us here have, in a way, military training.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Icelandic Coast Guard has 280 officers and operates two offshore patrol vessels. It also operates Iceland\u2019s air-defence system, with four radar complexes positioned around the island to monitor the country\u2019s airspace.<\/p>\n