Russia has issued a stark warning of potential retaliation against the Faroe Islands following the archipelago's decision to enact legislation targeting Russian fishing companies. The move escalates diplomatic tensions linked to wider European accusations of state-backed espionage.
Faroese Parliament Authorises Ban
The Faroese parliament has empowered its government to prohibit two specific Russian fishing giants from its waters. On Wednesday 3rd December 2025, the local public broadcaster confirmed the new law, which authorises the foreign minister to ban the firms Norebo and Murman Seafood from operating in Faroese waters or using its harbours.
This action aligns with similar measures previously taken by the European Union and Norway. Both entities have accused the two companies of engaging in espionage activities in European waters on behalf of the Russian state. Norebo and Murman Seafood have repeatedly denied all allegations, labelling them as false.
Russia's Stern Response
Responding to the development, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova condemned the move on Thursday 4th December. She described the self-governing Danish territory's "new unfriendly actions" as calling into question its commitment to a crucial bilateral fisheries agreement.
"The Russian side is forced to consider introducing appropriate retaliatory measures," Zakharova told reporters. The agreement in question was originally signed with the Soviet Union in 1977 and remains in force with Russia, governing fishing quotas.
Under this long-standing pact, the Faroe Islands export fish to Russia. In return for allowing Russian vessels access to its waters, it gains access to valuable cod stocks in the Barents Sea. Despite tightening port access in 2023, Russian boats operating under this agreement had continued to dock in Faroese ports.
Broader Security Context: UK-Norway Pact
This diplomatic friction coincides with significant allied defence developments aimed at countering Russian underwater activity. The UK and Norway signed a landmark defence pact on Thursday morning, creating a combined fleet of warships to hunt Russian submarines.
The agreement, signed by Defence Secretary John Healey and his Norwegian counterpart Tore Sandvik in Downing Street, is the "first of its kind." Dubbed the Lunna House agreement after a Shetland Isles Second World War resistance base, its primary goal is to protect critical undersea cables believed to be under increasing threat from Moscow.
The UK Ministry of Defence has reported a 30% rise in Russian vessel sightings in UK waters over the past two years, underscoring the perceived urgency of the new alliance. This pact represents a concerted NATO effort to bolster maritime security in the North Atlantic.
The situation highlights the intersecting fronts of economic sanctions and military preparedness in the ongoing strategic competition between Russia and Western nations, with the remote Faroe Islands now finding themselves at the centre of a significant diplomatic dispute.
