UK critical infrastructure will be protected from Russian submarines through a first-of-its-kind defense agreement that will see British and Norwegian navies operating side-by-side in the North Atlantic.
The agreement comes as the Prime Minister welcomes Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Støre to visit RAF Lossiemouth today. During the visit, the leaders will meet UK and Norwegian troops working together and thank them for their service over the Christmas period.
The leaders will also hear firsthand from P-8 maritime patrol aircraft crews who have been tracking Russian vessels operating in UK waters – including the Russian intelligence ship Yantar, detected just weeks ago on the edge of UK waters north of Scotland.
The new Lunna House Agreement will see the Royal Navy and Royal Norwegian Navy operate an interchangeable fleet of British-built Type-26 frigates. It follows a 30% increase in Russian vessels threatening UK waters in the past two years.
At the heart of the agreement is the new joint fleet of Type-26 anti-submarine warfare frigates – eight British and at least five Norwegian – backed by the biggest British warship deal in history. The £10 billion deal between the UK and Norway, signed in September, is a major boost to British shipbuilding and supports over 4,000 high-skilled British jobs.
Named after the Scottish headquarters of the Norwegian resistance during the Second World War – Lunna House in the Shetland Isles – the agreement builds on 75 years of UK-Norway cooperation – both founding NATO members.
It demonstrates the UK stepping up on European security and together with major agreements with Germany and France, shows how the Government is rebuilding close alliances essential for keeping Britain safe in an increasingly dangerous world.