Britain and Norway have announced a new defence pact to launch a joint fleet of warships aimed at hunting Russian submarines in the North Atlantic. The agreement, named the Lunna House agreement after a Shetland Isles base used by the Norwegian resistance during World War II, is designed to protect critical undersea cables and infrastructure increasingly threatened by Russian activity.
The announcement comes as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer hosts Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Store at RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland. The two leaders will meet with P-8 maritime patrol crews who have been tracking Russian vessels, including the spy ship Yantar, which recently operated drones in the Irish Sea and attacked a Royal Air Force aircraft with lasers.
The Ministry of Defence reported a 30 per cent rise in Russian vessel sightings in UK waters over the past two years. The new fleet, underpinned by a £10 billion UK-Norway warship deal signed in September, will include at least 13 anti-submarine ships, with Type 26 frigates built at BAE Systems' Glasgow yard. These vessels will monitor Russian movements between Greenland, Iceland, and the UK, defending seabed cables and pipelines vital for communications, electricity, and gas networks.
Defence Secretary John Healey and his Norwegian counterpart Tore Sandvik will sign the agreement in Downing Street. The pact also includes UK participation in Norway's programme for uncrewed mine hunting and undersea warfare systems, Royal Marines training in sub-zero conditions, and adoption of Norwegian naval strike missiles with a range of over 100 miles.
Sir Keir Starmer stated: '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. This historic agreement with Norway strengthens our ability to protect our borders and the critical infrastructure our nations depend on.'
