Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has issued a stark warning that the West must not overlook the persistent threat from Russia, even as conflict escalates in the Middle East. Speaking at the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) leaders' summit in Helsinki, Finland, Starmer declared the West is confronting a "war on two fronts"—encompassing both Ukraine and Iran—and emphasised that Russian aggression remains a growing danger.
Military Coalition Focuses on Dual Threats
During the gathering at Helsinki's presidential palace, Starmer underscored that the menace from Russia in northern and eastern Europe has not diminished. "In fact, in my view that threat has grown," he stated, highlighting the ongoing Ukrainian conflict alongside tensions with Iran. The JEF, a military coalition of ten northern European nations led by the United Kingdom, is dedicated to defending against Russian incursions and includes Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden.
Approval for Shadow Fleet Seizures
In a significant move, Starmer authorised British forces to begin seizing Russian shadow fleet tankers, which illicitly transport oil and other goods to evade Western sanctions imposed after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. He clarified that these vessels are "unlawfully breaching sanctions, usually with oil," and affirmed the UK would collaborate with allies on this initiative. Moscow's shadow fleet, reportedly comprising over a thousand ageing tankers, often flies flags of other countries to bypass restrictions.
Finland, Sweden, and Estonia have recently intercepted suspected shadow tankers in the Baltic Sea, and closing British waters to these ships aims to force them onto longer, costlier routes or risk interception. British forces have already tracked such vessels for years and supported seizures, including assisting the US in capturing the Russian-flagged oil tanker Marinera in January with RAF aircraft and the supply ship RFA Tideforce.
Enhanced Defence Cooperation Announced
Starmer announced that the Ukrainian navy will participate in a JEF exercise for the first time this autumn, praising Kyiv's "unparalleled" capabilities in countering drone warfare. He also discussed increasing defence spending and capability with JEF allies, stressing the need for collective action. Political leaders from nine JEF countries attended the summit, with Denmark sending officials due to ongoing coalition talks post-general election.
Demonstrations and Bilateral Meetings
On Thursday morning, Starmer and other JEF leaders observed Finnish border guards abseiling from a helicopter onto the patrol ship Turva in an exercise designed to showcase how allies could act against the shadow fleet. In his first summit engagement, Starmer met Finnish President Alexander Stubb, who lauded the shared pragmatism between Finland and the UK, describing Britain as the "father of JEF." Starmer reciprocated, noting the closeness of their bilateral relationship.
Starmer also held talks with Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson ahead of the full summit meeting. As the summit commenced, Starmer told broadcasters that discussions would focus on Russian aggression in Ukraine and the broader two-front conflict, reinforcing his commitment to strengthening allied defences against evolving threats.
