Keir Starmer and the Norwegian PM Jonas Støre will meet P-8 maritime patrol aircraft crews who have been tracking rising numbers of Russian vessels lurking in British waters
British and Norwegian warships will hunt Russian submarines in the North Atlantic to counter the rising threat from Moscow.
Under a new defence pact, the Royal Navy and Royal Norwegian Navy will operate an interchangeable fleet of British-built Type-26 frigates to patrol the waters between Greenland, Iceland and the UK. Keir Starmer will visit RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland today with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Støre, to meet P-8 maritime patrol aircraft crews who have been tracking rising numbers of Russian vessels lurking in British waters.
There has been a 30% surge in Russian ships spotted entering UK waters over the past two years. A Russian spy ship, the Yantar, recently shone lasers at RAF pilots when it was spotted north of Scotland, triggering a warning from Defence Secretary John Healey that the UK was ready to strike back if it travelled south. Today he said: “When our critical infrastructure and waters are threatened, we step up.”
Tensions have escalated after Kremlin tyrant Vladimir Putin warned that Russia was ready to go to war with Europe – and accused leaders of trying to sabotage peace talks. “We are not planning to go to war with Europe, but if Europe wants to and starts, we are ready right now,” the Russian President said on Tuesday. “They are on the side of war.”
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The UK and its allies have grown increasingly alarmed at the threat posed by Moscow to vital undersea cables and pipelines, which connect the UK to Europe and carry civilian and military communications, as well as electricity and gas.
Attacks on this vital infrastructure could cause “catastrophic disruption” to financial and communications systems, the National Security Strategy Committee warned in September.
The Prime Minister said: “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.”
Mr Healey said: “In this new era of threat and with increasing Russian activity in the North Atlantic, our strength comes from hard power and strong alliances. When our critical infrastructure and waters are threatened, we step up.
“For over 75 years, the UK and Norway have stood shoulder-to-shoulder on NATO’s northern flank, defending Europe and keeping our people safe. This partnership takes us further, making our nations more secure at home and strong abroad.”
The new Lunna House agreement – named after Norwegian resistance’s wartime base in the Shetland Isles – follows a £10billion warship deal signed in September.
The type 26 frigates will be constructed at the BAE Systems yard in Glasgow and will allow a fleet of at least 13 anti-submarine ships from the UK and Norway – at least five of which will be Norwegian – to operate jointly in northern Europe.
The Defence Secretary and his Norwegian counterpart Tore Sandvik will also agree a deal today for the UK to join Norway’s programme to develop motherships for uncrewed mine-hunting and undersea warfare.
The Navy will boost its lethality by adopting advanced Norwegian naval strike missiles, which can take out enemy ships at ranges of more than 100 miles.
Royal Marines will be trained all year round in Norway to fight in sub-zero conditions and both countries will carry out joint war games. Both countries will also collaborate on using UK-built sting ray torpedoes.