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UK and Norway Forge Alliance to Counter Russian Submarine Activity in North Atlantic
In a significant move to bolster regional security, the United Kingdom and Norway have officially announced a new defense agreement aimed at “hunting Russian submarines” and safeguarding vital communication lines across the North Atlantic Ocean. The pact, revealed by the U.K. government on Thursday, establishes a close operational partnership between the two nations’ navies.
At the heart of this agreement is the formation of a joint fleet of anti-submarine warships, a direct response to a reported 30% increase in Russian naval presence in U.K. waters over the past two years. This combined force will consist of eight British vessels and at least five Norwegian vessels, designed to operate in tandem.
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized the urgency of the collaboration, stating, “At this time of profound global instability, as more Russian ships are being detected in our waters, we must work with international partners to protect our national security.” He further added that this “historic agreement with Norway strengthens our ability to protect our borders and the critical infrastructure our nations depend on.”
John Healey, the U.K.’s head of defense, and Tore Sandvik, Norway’s head of defense, formalized the agreement, dubbed the Lunna House Agreement, during a signing ceremony in London. Healey affirmed that the pact will enable the two countries to “patrol the North Atlantic as one, train together in the Arctic, and develop the advanced equipment that will keep our citizens safe now and into the future.”
The primary focus of this naval alliance will be to patrol a crucial maritime corridor stretching between Greenland, Iceland, and the U.K., actively monitoring the area for any Russian activity. Beyond surveillance, the joint fleet will be tasked with defending the U.K.’s extensive network of underwater cables and pipelines. These critical infrastructures are responsible for international communications, as well as the transport of electricity and gas, making their protection paramount.
Norway’s Ministry of Defense highlighted additional aspects of the agreement, including “closer integration between Norwegian and British forces, cooperation on frigates, and joint drone projects in the High North.” The alliance also entails a heightened presence of British forces in Norway, with increased training for British Royal Marines in the region, signifying a larger role for the U.K. in Norway’s defense.
The U.K.’s announcement underscored the operational synergy envisioned, stating, “Both navies will operate as one – sharing maintenance facilities, technology and equipment to create truly interchangeable forces able to deploy rapidly wherever needed.”
This announcement comes as aircrews have been actively tracking Russian vessels operating within U.K. waters, including the Russian intelligence ship Yantar, which was detected just weeks ago near the edge of U.K. maritime territory north of Scotland.
Prime Minister Starmer welcomed Norwegian leader Jonas Støre to the U.K. on Thursday, with discussions held at an air force base in northern Scotland. During their meeting, Starmer reiterated the need for the U.K. to “remain vigilant to the ever-present threat” posed by Russia, as reported by BBC News.