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The United Kingdom and Norway have formalized a defence agreement aimed at jointly operating a fleet dedicated to tracking Russian submarines throughout the North Atlantic. This partnership prioritizes the security of undersea cables, which British authorities increasingly view as vulnerable to Russian threats. According to the UK Ministry of Defence, Russian naval activity in UK waters has surged by 30% over the past two years, highlighting the urgency of the new pact. Central to this collaboration will be British-built Type 26 frigates, which will be operated together by the navies of these NATO allies.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the agreement as “historic,” emphasizing its role in enhancing Britain’s capacity to safeguard vital infrastructure. The announcement was made as Starmer hosted Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Støre at RAF Lossiemouth in northern Scotland. During the visit, the leaders were briefed by maritime patrol teams involved in monitoring Russian naval activity, including surveillance of the Russian spy vessel Yantar. While Russian authorities claim Yantar is an oceanic research ship, Western governments have monitored it extensively in European waters amid suspicions that it conducts operations to map undersea cable networks.
The defence pact, known as the Lunna House agreement—named after the Norwegian resistance base in the Shetland Isles from World War Two—builds on a substantial £10 billion UK-Norway warship deal finalized in September. Norwegian Defence Minister Tore O Sandvik and UK Defence Secretary John Healey formalized the arrangement, highlighting a commitment to mutual defence. Under this plan, no fewer than thirteen anti-submarine warfare vessels from both nations, with at least five being Norwegian, will jointly monitor and secure the maritime regions spanning Greenland, Iceland, and the UK. Their mission involves protecting critical seabed infrastructure, including communication cables and pipelines essential to Britain’s information, electricity, and energy supplies.
Beyond surface fleet operations, the UK and Norway will collaborate on developing “motherships” designed to support uncrewed mine hunting and underwater warfare technologies. The Royal Navy will also integrate Norway’s advanced Naval Strike Missiles, capable of engaging targets at distances exceeding 160 kilometres. Royal Marines are set to train in Norwegian environments to prepare for combat in extreme cold. UK Defence Secretary Healey underscored the importance of this enhanced cooperation in the current climate, saying, “In this new era of threat and with increasing Russian activity in the North Atlantic, our strength comes from hard power and strong alliances.” The agreement comes amid growing concerns among NATO members about Russian threats to undersea infrastructure following heightened tensions related to the conflict in Ukraine. A recent parliamentary report warned that attacks on these underwater systems could severely disrupt the UK’s financial and communication networks, highlighting the strategic significance of the new bilateral partnership
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