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Historic defence pact targets Russian naval activity
The United Kingdom and Norway have formalised a defence agreement to jointly monitor and counter Russian submarine operations in the North Atlantic, aiming to safeguard critical undersea infrastructure. The deal, announced during Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gøre's visit to RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland on Thursday, follows a reported 30% increase in Russian vessels detected in UK waters over the past two years, according to the Ministry of Defence (MoD).
Combined fleet to protect undersea cables and pipelines
The pact will see the two NATO allies operate a shared fleet of British-built Type-26 frigates, equipped to track and deter Russian submarines. At least 13 anti-submarine warships-including five from Norway-will patrol the strategic waters between Greenland, Iceland, and the UK, focusing on defending seabed cables and pipelines vital to British communications, energy, and financial systems.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the agreement as "historic," emphasising its role in bolstering the UK's ability to protect critical infrastructure. The deal, named the Lunna House agreement after a World War II Norwegian resistance base in the Shetland Isles, is supported by a £10 billion UK-Norway warship contract signed in September.
Joint operations and advanced weaponry
The collaboration extends beyond naval patrols. The two nations will conduct joint war gaming exercises, deploy UK-built Sting Ray torpedoes, and develop "motherships" for uncrewed mine-hunting and undersea warfare systems. Additionally, the Royal Navy will adopt Norwegian Naval Strike Missiles, capable of striking enemy ships at ranges exceeding 160 km (100 miles).
Royal Marines will also receive specialised training in Norway to operate in sub-zero conditions, further strengthening the alliance's Arctic capabilities.
Russian spy ship raises alarms
During their visit to RAF Lossiemouth, Starmer and Gøre met with maritime patrol crews who have tracked Russian vessels, including the spy ship Yantar. The vessel, officially classified by Russia as an oceanic research ship, has been accused of using lasers to disrupt RAF pilots. Western intelligence agencies suspect the Yantar, operated by Russia's Ministry of Defence, is involved in mapping undersea cables.
"In this new era of threat and with increasing Russian activity in the North Atlantic, our strength comes from hard power and strong alliances."
UK Defence Secretary John Healey
Growing concerns over undersea infrastructure
The UK relies heavily on undersea cables for data transmission and energy supplies, including oil and gas pipelines linking Britain to North Sea neighbours like Norway. A September report by the National Security Strategy Committee warned that attacks on such infrastructure could cause "catastrophic disruption" to financial and communications systems.
The MoD has faced criticism from MPs for over-reliance on US defence resources and a lack of preparedness to defend UK territories. The new pact with Norway is seen as a step toward addressing these vulnerabilities.
Next steps
The agreement signals a deepening of defence ties between the UK and Norway amid rising geopolitical tensions. Both nations have pledged to continue joint exercises and technological collaboration to counter emerging threats in the North Atlantic.
