U.K. and Norway sign pact to “hunt Russian submarines” in North Atlantic

The United Kingdom and Norway are forming an alliance to “hunt down Russian submarines” and protect lines of communication in the North Atlantic Ocean, as part of a new defense agreement between the two countries, the British government announced on Thursday.

The agreement will see the British and Norwegian navies working side by side. At the heart of the deal is a new joint fleet of anti-submarine warships – in response to a 30% increase in the presence of Russian ships in British waters over the past two years, according to the UK’s announcement. The fleet includes eight British ships and at least five Norwegian ships.

“At this time of deep global instability, as more and more Russian vessels are detected in our waters, we must work with our international partners to protect our national security,” British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a statement. “This historic agreement with Norway strengthens our ability to protect our borders and the critical infrastructure our nations depend on.”

John Healey, Britain’s defense chief, said the agreement, called the Lunna House Agreement, will allow the two countries to “patrol the North Atlantic as one, train together in the Arctic and develop cutting-edge equipment that will keep our citizens safe now and in the future.”

Healey and Tore Sandvik, Norway’s defense chief, signed the deal in London on Thursday.

The naval alliance will primarily patrol an important maritime region between Greenland, Iceland and the United Kingdom, and monitor the area for Russian activity, the British government said. As well as surveillance, the fleet will be responsible for defending the UK’s undersea cables and pipelines, responsible for overseas communications as well as the transport of electricity and gas and located in this part of the North Atlantic.

“The agreement provides for closer integration between Norwegian and British forces, cooperation on frigates and joint drone projects in the High North,” the Norwegian Ministry of Defense said.

With this agreement, British forces will also play a greater role in the defense of Norway with an increased presence and more training of British Royal Marines in Norway.

“The two navies will operate as a single unit, sharing maintenance facilities, technology and equipment to create truly interchangeable forces, capable of rapidly deploying where needed,” the UK statement said.

The announcement comes as air crews monitor Russian vessels operating in British waters, including the Russian intelligence vessel Yantar, which was detected several weeks ago on the edge of British maritime territory just north of Scotland, according to British officials.

Starmer welcomed Norwegian leader Jonas Støre to the United Kingdom on Thursday, at an air base in northern Scotland. Starmer told the base that the UK must “remain vigilant against the ever-present threat” that Russia poses to the country, BBC News reported.