A defense pact unveiled on Thursday between Britain and Norway will see their naval forces collaborate in operating a fleet of warships designed to counter Russian submarine activity in the North Atlantic. The UK government stated that this initiative aims to safeguard crucial undersea infrastructure, such as telecommunications and energy cables, which Western officials assert are increasingly vulnerable to threats from Moscow.
The announcement from the UK’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) comes on the heels of a 30 percent increase in the sightings of Russian vessels within UK waters over the past two years. This rising concern was accentuated when Norway confirmed its procurement of at least five Type-26 frigates from Britain, a transaction valued at approximately £10 billion ($13 billion), back in September.
The timing of the pact coincides with a visit by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store to a Royal Air Force base located in northern Scotland, further highlighting the close defense ties between the two nations.
Under the terms of this agreement, the two countries will jointly operate a total of 13 British-built frigates on an “interchangeable” basis. These vessels will be tasked with monitoring Russian naval movements in the strategic maritime corridor between Greenland, Iceland, and the UK. The primary focus will be to protect essential infrastructure such as underwater cables and pipelines, which facilitate vital communications, electricity, and gas transmission.
Starmer emphasized the significance of this agreement, 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.”
The context for this pact includes recent warnings from UK Defence Minister John Healey, who described a concerning encounter involving the Russian military ship Yantar. Healey reported that the Yantar had entered British waters for the second time this year and had directed lasers at British air force pilots in what he termed a “deeply dangerous” incident.
The increasing frequency of Russian naval activity has raised alarms among Britain and its NATO allies, who remain vigilant about the risks posed by Moscow to offshore infrastructure. This concern has intensified in light of suspected sabotage incidents affecting various undersea telecom and power cables in recent months.
Experts and policymakers have suggested that Russia may be orchestrating a form of hybrid warfare against Western nations, particularly as many of these countries have expressed support for Ukraine following Russia’s extensive invasion of the country in 2022.
