Britain and Norway form naval partnership to defend North Sea against Russia

On December 4, the United Kingdom and Norway announced a strategic naval partnership aimed at countering Russian submarine activity in the North Sea. The agreement, called the Lunna House Pact, enables both nations navies to operate a shared fleet of British-designed Type-26 frigates.

The collaboration comes after a reported 30% rise in Russian naval presence near UK waters over the past two years. Officials from both countries expressed concern that these vessels could endanger critical undersea infrastructure, including communication cables and pipelines connecting the UK with Scandinavia.

UK Defense Secretary John Healey and Norwegian Defense Minister Tore O. Sandvik signed the pact at 10 Downing Street. In parallel, Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomed Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Stre to RAF Lossiemouth in northern Scotland to observe joint military operations and show appreciation for deployed personnel during the holiday season.

The leaders also met with crews from P-8 maritime patrol aircraft monitoring Russian vessels, including the intelligence ship Yantar, which was recently spotted near northern Scotland. While Russia classifies the Yantar as a research vessel, it has been accused of laser activity against RAF aircraft and suspected of mapping undersea cables.

Key elements of the pact include the construction of eight British and five Norwegian Type-26 frigates, supporting over 4,000 skilled jobs in the UK. The vessels will patrol waters between the UK, Norway, and Iceland. Additionally, the agreement allows for joint naval exercises, deployment of UK-built Sting Ray torpedoes, and Royal Marines training for extreme cold-weather operations in Norway.

Prime Minister Starmer stated, "Amid growing global instability and increasing Russian naval activity near our waters, cooperating with international partners is essential to protect national security. This landmark agreement with Norway strengthens our border defenses, safeguards vital infrastructure, and highlights Britains advanced shipbuilding capabilities."

The Lunna House Pact is named after the historic Shetland Isles estate that served as a hub for the Norwegian resistance during World War II.

Author: Jackson Miller