The Embassy of the United States in Reykjavík is the diplomatic mission of the United States of America in Iceland.
| Embassy of the United States, Reykjavík | |
|---|---|
  The building on Laufásveg used until 2020 | |
 | |
| Location |  Reykjavík, Iceland |
| Address | Engjateigur 7, 105 Reykjavík, Iceland |
| Coordinates | 64°8′28″N 21°53′24″W / 64.14111°N 21.89000°W |
| Website | https://is.usembassy.gov |
History
editThe establishment of diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Iceland occurred on September 30, 1941, when Lincoln MacVeagh presented his credentials and elevated the then-American Consulate to Legation status. On November 3, 1955, the American Legation was further elevated to Embassy status, with John J. Muccio serving as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary.[1]
The U.S. Mission was previously housed in a building purchased by the Department of State in 1947 for the American Legation. This building, along with adjacent structures, served as the mission's home for over half a century. Throughout this time, it underwent various renovations and received technological upgrades.[2]
In August 2011, the embassy received an email from Sigurdur Thordarson, an Icelandic citizen, requesting a confidential meeting to discuss an ongoing U.S. investigation of WikiLeaks. This correspondence marked the beginning of Thordarson's journey as an informant, a role that later gained significant attention in the context of the investigation into WikiLeaks and its activities.[3][4][5]
In 2020, the embassy moved to a new location on Engjateigur. This pre-existing building was upgraded at a cost of $62 million.[6][7]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "A Guide to the United States' History of Recognition, Diplomatic, and Consular Relations, by Country, since 1776: Iceland". history.state.gov. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
- ^ "U.S. Embassy Reykjavík, Iceland". diplomacy.state.gov. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
- ^ FARIVAR, CYRUS (June 27, 2013). "Teenage WikiLeaks volunteer: Why I served as an FBI informant". Retrieved November 12, 2023.
- ^ "Skýrsla um könnun embættis ríkislögreglustjóra" (PDF).
- ^ "Ríkissaksóknara send málefni er varða starfsemi eftirlitssveitar við bandaríska sendiráðið á Íslandi | Fréttir | Innanríkisráðuneytið". Innanríkisráðuneytið. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
- ^ Geraghty, Patrick C. (January 1, 2021). "New embassy building dedicated in Reykjavik". State Magazine. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
- ^ Kolbeinsson, Jóhann Bjarni (October 18, 2017). "6,5 milljarðar í skothelt sendiráð í Reykjavík". RÚV (in Icelandic). Retrieved June 23, 2024.