The UK and Norway have agreed to work together as a single naval force to protect the North Atlantic from growing undersea threats. This new partnership, known as the Lunna House Agreement, is named after the historic base used by Norway’s wartime resistance. It marks one of the strongest defence ties between the two nations in decades.
A New Joint Force in the North Atlantic
Under the agreement, the two countries will merge parts of their navies to act and move like one team. Their main mission will be to track and counter Russian submarines and spy ships that are becoming increasingly active near vital underwater cables and energy pipelines.
Both countries say they need this move because Russian vessels have sharply increased their operations close to UK waters. Over the past two years, Russian ship activity has risen by 30 per cent, and a well-known Russian spy ship has repeatedly sailed near undersea infrastructure north of Scotland.
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To respond, the UK and Norway will deploy at least 13 advanced Type 26 anti-submarine frigates into the North Atlantic. These ships are specially built to find and track submarines. Underwater drones, aircraft, and shared technology will support them so the two navies can communicate and act instantly.
Leaders from both countries visited a major airbase in northern Scotland to meet crews who continuously monitor Russian vessels, even during the Christmas season. These crews fly long-range aircraft that detect submarines and surface ships, giving early warnings when they spot suspicious activity.
Stronger North Atlantic Defences and Shared Technology
A key part of the agreement is the creation of a joint fleet of Type 26 frigates, combining eight UK ships with at least five from Norway. This will form one of the largest and most advanced anti-submarine forces in the North Atlantic.
The government is investing £10 billion in the shipbuilding project, which supports more than 4,000 skilled jobs and strengthens the UK’s naval industry. Both countries will also share repair facilities, maintenance centres, weapons, and tracking technology so they can service or upgrade each other’s ships quickly.
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The agreement increases cooperation on Sting Ray torpedoes and introduces Norwegian-made Naval Strike Missiles across the Royal Navy. It also includes plans for the UK to join Norway’s work on new support vessels that act as bases for underwater drones used in mine hunting and seabed monitoring.
Training will expand as well, with Royal Marines taking part in year-round Arctic exercises alongside Norwegian forces to improve cold-weather skills and readiness in the harsh High North.
Rising Undersea Risks Across Europe
Europe is growing increasingly concerned about the safety of vital undersea infrastructure. Most of the UK’s internet traffic — around 98 per cent — depends on roughly 70 fibre-optic cables lying on the seabed. These cables support online banking, business systems, and emergency services, yet they are difficult to protect and slow to repair. A single break can take weeks to fix, causing major disruption.
Several European nations have reported unusual activity from Russian ships near these undersea routes. Some of these vessels belong to units known for deep-sea operations. There have also been past incidents of damage to underwater infrastructure in the Baltic and North Sea, raising fears of possible sabotage.
To respond to these risks, the UK has deployed new surveillance ships that can monitor the seabed for threats. One vessel is already active, and another is planned after the next defence review.
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Experts warn that Europe has a major weak point beneath the oceans, where critical systems like data cables, fuel lines, and power links are vulnerable. Since these assets lie far offshore, protecting them is difficult.
This is why the UK and Norway are tightening their cooperation under the Lunna House Agreement. By jointly patrolling the North Atlantic, sharing intelligence, and training together in Arctic conditions, both countries aim to strengthen the security of the undersea networks that modern societies rely on every day.