UK and Norway kickstart new defence agreement in boost for European security
UK continues to step up on European security in move to deepen defence ties with Norway
The UK has kickstarted聽negotiations today on聽a major defence agreement聽with Norway in a move that will bolster security at home and on the European continent and help deter Russian aggression.
During a visit 400km inside the Arctic Circle,聽including to the Norwegian border with Russia,聽the Defence Secretary John Healey聽set out plans for a new agreement which will bring the UK and Norway closer together than ever, boosting national security and creating opportunities for growth to help deliver the government鈥檚 Plan for Change.
The聽proposed聽strategic partnership will聽look to build聽on聽the UK鈥檚聽longstanding defence relationship with Norway by strengthening聽our armed forces, developing聽closer industrial ties and enhancing our capabilities聽to face common challenges such as protection of critical undersea infrastructure. It follows the Defence Secretary signing the landmark Trinity House Agreement with Germany in October.
The announcement, recognising聽the importance of the High North region, comes as聽the UK steps up to take a leading role in European security and within NATO.
With Russia continuing to militarise the High North and Arctic, this new agreement will boost security for the UK, Norway and our NATO allies, bolstering defences on NATO鈥檚 northern聽flank.
Alongside聽Norway Defence Minister Tore Sandvik, John Healey visited a border post near Kirkenes on the Russian border yesterday. There, they聽discussed聽shared security concerns and the commitment to deterring Russian threats and stepping up support for Ukraine in this聽critical year.
Defence Secretary John Healey聽MP聽said:
Kickstarting work on a聽deep, ambitious聽new defence agreement with Norway shows the UK promise to step up on European security in action.
Norway remains one of the UK鈥檚 most important allies. We will create a new era of defence partnership to聽bring us closer than ever before as we tackle increasing threats, strengthen NATO, and boost our security in the High North.
The UK is determined to play a leadership role on European security, supporting the foundations for our security and prosperity at home and showing our adversaries that we are united in our determination to protect our interests.
Both Defence ministers also visited聽the聽UK鈥檚 ship RFA Proteus聽in Bod酶, which is docked聽in Norway ahead of聽exercises in the Baltic Sea.聽
The Ministers saw聽how聽Proteus鈥櫬燾apabilities聽support UK and European security聽鈥� functioning as a mothership for drones and remotely operated vehicles, which act as a deterrent and can monitor and protect undersea infrastructure.聽
The UK and Norway have both stepped up maritime security in the Baltic Sea to protect聽critical undersea infrastructure. Under NATO鈥檚 Operation Baltic Sentry operation, the UK and Norway are working together, with the UK contributing Rivet Joint and P-8 Poseidon maritime surveillance aircraft.
Speaking聽in聽sub-zero conditions in聽Bod酶,聽the two聽Ministers highlighted聽their聽determination to defend聽shared聽interests聽in an increasingly unstable world.聽
Norway Defence Minister, Tore Sandvik said:
The United Kingdom is Norway鈥檚 closest and most important ally in Europe, and our two countries have maintained a close and strong security and defence cooperation for many years. We now face many of the same security challenges in a time of great uncertainty.
It is therefore natural for us to strengthen our ties even further to enhance both our own and our allies鈥� security while safeguarding our shared strategic interests. At the same time, we will contribute to making NATO stronger.
Together, the UK and Norway continue to be ironclad in support for Ukraine, leading the聽Maritime Capability聽Coalition聽which is transforming the Ukrainian Navy聽by developing its聽Black Sea maritime force and building new聽cutting-edge聽underwater drones.
Both nations are also playing a key part in the training of Ukrainian recruits. More than 51,000 men and women聽have been聽provided with the skills needed to counter Russian鈥檚 illegal invasion.
In addition, Norway is the only nation to join the full duration of the UK鈥檚 Carrier Strike Group deployment to the Indo-Pacific this year. A Norwegian frigate will sail alongside the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales. In preparation for the deployment, the UK and Norway will take part in Exercise Tamber Shield in the next few weeks.
More details on the announcement between the UK and Norway can be found here - Joint Statement on Enhanced Defence Cooperation between Norway and the United Kingdom - 188体育